Carolina Panthers: Three to watch
Three Carolina Panthers to watch in Friday’s exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills:
No. 15, Jarrett Boykin, WR: Boykin, a former Packers receiver from Charlotte, has had an up-and-down camp. That was never more apparent than during Tuesday’s practice in Spartanburg, where Boykin turned cornerback Josh Norman around with a double move along the sideline early in an early drill, but Boykin later dropped two passes, including one at the goal line.
No. 54, Shaq Thompson, LB: The Panthers’ coaching staff has been forced to be patient with their first-round pick. Limited by a hamstring injury, Thompson seems to be getting close to 100 percent, and showed off his ball skills this week with a red-zone interception during team drills. With vanilla schemes likely in the first exhibition, Thompson’s blitz skills still might be kept under wraps.
No. 61, Kyle Love, DT: With starters Star Lotulelei (foot) and Kawann Short (back) sidelined with injuries, defensive tackle Kyle Love and Micanor Regis should get a lot of snaps after veterans Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole sit down. Love, who has Type 2 diabetes, seemed like a longshot to make the team when camp started. Friday, Love has a chance to prove he belongs.
Joseph Person: 704-358-5123, @josephperson
This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 8:59 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers: Three to watch."