Panthers’ Thompson says new teammate is playing so well he needs to be on the field
The Panthers are looking to cultivate depth on defense, and one of the team’s unheralded veteran free-agent additions has already exceeded the expectations of Carolina’s longtime defensive captain.
Shaq Thompson, who is entering his ninth season with the Panthers, has watched as fellow veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill has produced an interception in each of the team’s first two training camp practices. Thompson believes that because of his standout start to the summer, Grugier-Hill, 29, has been pushing his way into a meaningful role on defense.
“Kamu is one of those guys that’s just like a silent killer, you know what I mean?” Thompson said Thursday. “They brought him in for special teams, but I think he’s going to be one of those guys playing — they’ve got to put him on the field, some how, some way. He’s been making plays, he’s fast, he’s smart, he’s a veteran. I feel like you’ve got to find a way to get everybody on the field, and you definitely have got to find a way to get him on the field.”
TRAINING CAMP TAKEAWAYS: DAY 1 | DAY 2
Although Grugier-Hill has been a special teams ace throughout his career, the veteran linebacker is no stranger to playing a major role on defense.
The Eastern Illinois product worked his way up the Philadelphia Eagles’ depth chart during a four-year stint with the squad (while winning a Super Bowl in the process) and left the NFC East franchise as a starting linebacker. He eventually had similar depth-chart journeys in shorter stops with the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. He split last season between Houston and Arizona before signing with Carolina in April.
Grugier-Hill, who is listed as 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, has a history of juggling multiple roles. He has thrived on special teams, but he’s no slouch on defense either, producing five sacks and two interceptions during his turns at linebacker over the years. And as Thompson and Frankie Luvu prepare take on the starting roles in the Panthers’ new 3-4 front, Grugier-Hill could be used in specific sub packages to lighten the load for the starting duo and keep everyone fresh at the position.
As Grugier-Hill enters his eighth season, the 2016 sixth-round pick is in an ideal place to carve out a meaningful assignment on a young squad. With linebacker depth scarce in Carolina, that’s a mutually beneficial outlook for the veteran player and the defense.
More training camp reading:
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▪ Exclusive: Hall of Fame GM Bill Polian on pros, cons of rookie Panthers QB Bryce Young
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▪ How Panthers’ Adam Thielen has become a reliable resource for Bryce Young and Frank Reich
▪ Bryce Young needs a secret weapon for Panthers. A fellow rookie could fill that role
