Panthers WR DJ Chark didn’t practice, adding to injured Carolina receiving corps
The Carolina Panthers’ receiving corps is still working through its slew of injuries.
DJ Chark didn’t practice Wednesday thanks to a hamstring injury he sustained before the team’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. He was joined on the injury report by veteran wideout and team captain Adam Thielen, who was limited in practice with an ankle injury.
In total, four of the team’s six rostered wide receivers were on Wednesday’s injury report.
The others: Terrace Marshall, the third-year wideout whose back injury has stifled an otherwise great preseason, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who the team acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs last week. (Marshall was limited in practice; Smith-Marsette was listed as a “full participant” despite his ankle injury.)
Laviska Shenault and rookie Jonathan Mingo were the two Panthers receivers on the 53-man roster not on Wednesday’s injury report.
Injuries on this receiving corps have been par for the course this preseason. Shenault was sidelined for a stretch due to being on concussion protocol, and practice squad player Derek Wright missed part of the preseason because of a knee injury, too.
When asked if there was visible frustration because of all the injuries the receiving corps endured before Week 1 — when the Bryce Young-Frank Reich era begins on the road against the Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday — Chark shrugged.
“Everybody that was here at the beginning is here now,” Chark said Wednesday. “I’m the only one who is currently out, but I’m working my way back. So I’ll be back very soon.
“I mean, it’s training camp. That’s where you get all your bruises and things like that. You fight through them. When the season comes, practices and schedules change. Being in the heat, things like that change. So I don’t think anybody has any frustration like that.”
Defensive back Sam Franklin Jr. was also limited in practice Wednesday with a knee injury, and so was defensive end DeShawn Williams with an undisclosed illness.
Brian Burns also showed up to practice in full pads after missing practices Thursday and Monday for what head coach Frank Reich called “personal reasons.” The Pro Bowl outside linebacker was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report, which means he was a full participant.
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 4:16 PM.
