Panthers training camp: ‘Dominant’ practice for Trevin Wallace, Carolina defense
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- Carolina defense forced four interceptions and multiple sacks during drills.
- Linebackers Trevin Wallace and Thomas Incoom delivered key splash plays.
- Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders continued to shine with contested red-zone catches.
The Carolina Panthers got off to a sluggish start to begin Friday’s padded practice. But according to head coach Dave Canales, an early pep talk from quarterback Bryce Young turned the training camp workout from calm to competitive in uptown Charlotte.
While Canales called the defense’s performance “dominant,” both sides of the ball got off their fair share of highlight-reel material.
“Some turnovers, some beautiful hits, guys squaring the offensive guys up, showing each other the type of physical play that they expect, which I love,” Canales said about the defense. “I love that it’s coming from them.”
From would-be sacks to interceptions, the defense was able to put together a strong string of splash plays. But Young, backup QB Andy Dalton and the rest of the offense got in their “wow” moments as well.
“And that’s what we need,” Canales added. “And the offense needs to be able to be prepared for that kind of physical nature of the game, so I loved the finish of the practice.”
Trevin Wallace, Thomas Incoom, and interceptions, oh my!
Second-year linebacker Trevin Wallace showed off his blitzing chops throughout Friday’s practice. His seek-and-destroy nature was evident in traffic as he produced two would-be sacks on Young.
The Panthers are counting on Wallace to be a playmaker at inside linebacker, especially after releasing veteran Josey Jewell. And in pads, Wallace made the most of his team drill reps.
Outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, who joined the Panthers midseason last year, also had a strong day. Incoom produced a pair of “sacks” around the edge and had an impressive run stop as well. Both Canales and fellow pass rusher D.J. Wonnum praised Incoom’s physicality as an edge defender after practice.
“Thomas is taking to the coaching points of becoming a rusher,” Canales said. “He’s very physical by nature. He helped us on special teams. He’s a dynamic player there. But I know (OLB coach) AC Carter has been working with him. Our outside linebackers coach has been really working with him of having a couple of tools. Just like a pitcher: you got your fastball, and then some sort of off-speed pitch that’s coming. And Thomas with his speed, he could help us. He could be a dynamic presence that way. And I just love how physical he’s playing in the run game as well.”
With D.J. Johnson nursing a mid-practice hip injury on the sideline, and second-round pick Nic Scourton dealing with a minor hamstring ailment off to the side, Incoom got additional reps, and make good use the snaps.
“I feel like it’s his athleticism,” Wonnum said about Incoom. “I feel like he’s not the biggest guy, but he can bend, he can get low, he can do different things. And then, what I’ve been proud of (with) TI is his physicality. He’s come and set the edge, denting the pullers, making plays at the same time. He’s been doing big things for us.”
Along with the pass rushing success, the defense also had a quartet of interceptions. The first came on a well-played snag by top cornerback Jaycee Horn in 7-on-7 work. Horn saw the play develop right in front of him as Young tossed a jump ball to wideout Xavier Legette near the end zone. Horn leaped up and intercepted the pass right in front of Legette.
During the same series of 7-on-7 drills, rookie cornerback Mike Reid batted a pass from Dalton to wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. into the air. Inside linebacker Jacoby Windmon was able to catch the ricocheted ball and turn up field with the interception. However, tight end Dominique Dafney made a heads up play and recovered the ball after Windmon fumbled it short of the defensive huddle.
Later on, during 11-on-11 work, Young floated a pass down the field without a receiver in sight. Safety Nick Scott fielded the off-target throw like a punt returner. Clearly, there was a miscommunication on some level by the offense.
The final pick was produced by training-camp star Chau Smith-Wade. The second-year nickel corner was hiding in traffic near the seam and Young didn’t see him in the middle of the field. Young saw Tetairoa McMillan break free from cornerback Corey Thornton and fired at the receiver, but Smith-Wade pounced in front of the throw and ended the practice on a pick.
A day for the tight ends
While the defense won the overall day, the Panthers’ tight ends had a strong showing. With Tommy Tremble (back/PUP) working off to the side with a trainer, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell all made some impressive plays.
Sanders, who might be the team’s offensive MVP of the first two weeks of camp, made several highlight catches against the first- and second-team defenses. Dalton tossed a rainbow-like floater that lofted into the air for too long, and cornerback Akayleb Evans tried to track it, but misplayed the throw, and Sanders turned into a DB and picked it off in front of Evans. Sanders then rolled into the end zone before celebrating with a spinning of the ball and crossing his arms. Sanders later made a really nice catch in traffic near the goal-line during red zone drills for a touchdown.
Sanders looks fast after a notable body transformation this summer. He has routinely made plays on a daily basis, and his ability to break free from DBs in coverage is evident. And when he can’t get open easily, he uses his size and physicality to bully defenders for tough catches.
Mitchell has had limited opportunities with the ball through camp, but Friday was his Emmy tape for the summer. He caught a pair of highly contested passes down the seam. The first one featured Mitchell leaping and hauling in the ball over Windmon. Following practice, Canales said Mitchell “keeps doing right” during practice. If Tremble is unable to start the season, Mitchell feels like the current leader in the No. 3 tight end race.
Evans, a fifth-round pick, also had a nice couple of catches in the flat. He hasn’t had his name called all that often, but Evans is a bulldozer after the catch. He is likely to shine during joint practice and preseason games because of his physicality, which takes a backseat in daily Carolina practices.
Quick hits: Panthers to play starters in first two preseason games
- Canales reiterated what he told The Observer in March at the owner meetings: The Panthers will play their starters in the preseason, particularly the first two games. The team will also have joint practices with their first two preseason opponents, the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans.
- Wideout Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) and guard Chandler Zavala (knee) both remained sidelined. Scourton and Johnson joined them on the trainer’s field, while defensive end Derrick Brown (knee) was limited to individual drills. Cornerback Mike Jackson (toe) and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II (illness) returned to the field for team drills.
- Dalton continues to give the second-team offense and defense fantastic looks as a passer. He made a phenomenal throw to Jimmy Horn Jr. in the end zone during 7-on-7 red-zone drills. Horn beat Reid by a half of a step and got the ball put right in front of him in pay dirt for the score.
- Free-agent addition, defensive end Turk Wharton, started 11-on-11 drills with a would-be sack. He later had an impressive run stop as well.
- Third-round pick, outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen, put an emphatic hit on running back Raheem Blackshear in 11-on-11 work. The hit took Blackshear off his feet to the ground.
- Fourth-round pick, Trevor Etienne, had a seamless one-cut run for a big gain in 11-on-11 drills. Etienne is so fluid as a runner that his change of direction and speed look seamless.
- Wideout Brycen Tremaine, who stands 6-4 and 212 pounds, made a trio of nice catches in red-zone period. He’s long and lanky, but he tends to still win with his routes. He’s worth monitoring, especially given his Stanford connection with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
- Jared Allen, who played in 12 regular-season games for the Panthers during the 2015 season, will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Saturday at 1 p.m. The ceremony will air on ESPN and NFL Network.
- The Panthers will host their annual Fan Fest practice at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Canales said the team will don full pads and tackle during the workout. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the practice is expected to run until 8:45 p.m., according to the team. There will be a fireworks/laser show following the practice. Tickets to the event cost $5 and can be purchased on Ticketmaster. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Panthers charitable partnerships.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM.
