Panthers training camp notebook: Free-agent addition makes big play on defense
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young forced a throw into traffic, and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II pounced.
The 6-foot-4, 264-pound defender had dropped into coverage Thursday, during Carolina’s second training camp practice, and as Young tried to hurry a throw to a crossing wideout, first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan, Jones leaped into the tackle box to haul in the ball.
Jones, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal in March, is known for his versatility within the defensive front. But his reputation isn’t typically highlighted by his coverage ability. In fact, he has zero career interceptions in 57 games.
Jones, though, made an opportunistic play that should have the coaching staff and the front office feeling good about his football IQ. He’s coming off a career-high seven-sack season in Minnesota, and if he can be at least serviceable in coverage, the Panthers can throw some unexpected wrinkles into their defensive playbook.
“Effort, first and foremost,” Canales said of what Jones can bring to the team on Thursday. “We preach rolling off the ball, setting edges in the run game, transitioning to your pass rush, and just being able to play that stout type of defense. And watching his film from last year ... the physical way he chased the ball on the back side, played stout on the front side. It was a great addition.”
Jones is considered one of the leaders of the young outside linebacker room. Tuesday, rookie pass rusher Nic Scourton went out of his way to say Jones and fellow veteran outside linebacker DJ Wonnum have taken him under their wings.
Jones and Wonnum rushed from the edges as a tandem Thursday during the team’s second practice in uptown. Wonnum only took part in individual drills on Wednesday, but Thursday offered the first glimpse of the projected four top pass rushers — Jones, Wonnum, Scourton and Princely Umanmielen — during the team period.
Good day for DBs
The Panthers’ coverage unit made the most of team reps on Thursday.
In particular, cornerback Jaycee Horn had a fantastic 11-on-11 rep in coverage against McMillan. Young was forced to overthrow McMillan on a deep heave because Horn blanketed him for roughly 25 to 30 yards. Horn is known for his “seat belt” celebration, and on this particular rep, he was strapped to the first-round pick.
Canales thinks McMillan, a dynamic wideout with impressive size, can learn from the competition against Horn.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Canales said. “Position to position, the guys you go against in practice is how we become us. It’s how we find our best. When you bring your best, you bring out the best in the guy across from you.
“Jaycee just kind of owning his land, his territory right there in that situation, cutting off the deep ball. He’s going to teach TMac how to get in position, how to reduce his surface to try to get back on tap, or to stop and pop against a really big, strong, fast corner — as big and fast as they come. So it really brings out the heart of competition.”
Undrafted rookie cornerback Corey Thornton also had a nice downfield rep against McMillan in team drills. Thornton, listed as 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, used his body to shade McMillan on a streaking route. And again, Young needed to put the ball in front of the wideout to have any chance of making the play. The ball ultimately fell incomplete.
Second-year nickel corner Chau Smith-Wade, one of the stars of the offseason program, also made an impressive pass breakup in 11-on-11 drills. Young targeted wideout David Moore on a crossing route, and Smith-Wade was able to dive forward to breakup the connection.
It’s typical for the defense to be ahead of the offense in the early days of camp. The defense is reacting to the offense and has less to take in as far as play-calling. The lack of pads also gives the defensive line an advantage in pass rush situations because of the speed off the edge, which forces the pocket to be quite busy around the QB.
Offense slowly taking shape
While the defense clearly won the second practice in a row, the offense still had its moments in team drills.
Young connected with McMillan on a pretty off-platform throw to his right during 7-on-7 work. Young moved out of the pocket and put the ball where only McMillan could get it. The positioning of the pass set up McMillan for extra yardage after the catch, and the rookie snagged the ball out of the air in stride for a decent gain.
Young made a nice throw to wideout Jalen Coker in the flat as well during 7-on-7 work. The QB also had a nice toss to wideout Adam Thielen in the red-zone during 11-on-11 drills.
Backup QB Andy Dalton had a few impressive connections, as well.
Dalton made a nice throw to an out-route by sixth-round pick Jimmy Horn Jr. The rookie wide receiver made a leaping catch toward the sideline and kept himself inside the field of play.
Dalton, during red-zone 11-on-11 reps, tossed a beautiful ball to 6-foot-4, 212-pound wideout Brycen Tremaine for a touchdown. Later, Dalton connected with Hunter Renfrow, who made a catch up the seam and evaded defenders with a nifty change-of-direction move.
Quick hits
▪ The Panthers’ injury lists remained intact on Thursday: TE Tommy Tremble (back) and WR Dan Chisena (calf) were sidelined on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, while DT Bobby Brown and P Sam Martin retained their statuses on the non-football injury (NFI) list.
Tremble, though, ran routes on an adjacent field for Young before individual and team drills. He wasn’t wearing a practice uniform, but looked good running routes following back surgery.
RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss the entire season on the reserve/PUP list after undergoing a second ACL surgery in as many offseasons.
▪ In an update to attendance: DE Derrick Brown (personal reasons) was excused from practice. He wasn’t at practice Wednesday as well. Cornerback MJ Devonshire (hamstring) also missed the workout.
▪ Kicking competition update: Undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald went 4 of 5 on the skinny field goal posts on Thursday. Like Wright on Wednesday, Fitzgerald missed his second attempt that was around 40 yards. Canales said after the practice that he hoped the competition would continue through the preseason, especially as Martin — the primary holder — hasn’t been able to forge chemistry with the kickers so far in camp.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 1:47 PM.
