Carolina Panthers offensive lineman ‘week to week’ with knee injury, and more
The Carolina Panthers retained nearly every offensive lineman they ended 2024 with, and that luxury has been a proud point of emphasis throughout this year’s training camp.
It turns out that depth will be tested early.
Chandler Zavala, the Panthers’ 2023 fourth-round draft pick, didn’t practice Tuesday and is “week to week” with a knee injury, head coach Dave Canales told reporters. The interior lineman suffered an injury to his patellar tendon, according to Canales, which came after going through a one-on-one pass rush rep against Derrick Brown on Monday — a product of “anchoring to get back into position” and then tweaking it thereafter, the coach said.
This news marks the latest injury for the former N.C. State star. He has appeared in 27 games over his first two pro seasons. His rookie season, he sustained a scary neck injury at Detroit and was later placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a knee injury. He proved much more durable in 2024; he played in all the team’s 27 contests but only started two.
The disappointment for Zavala was palpable in Canales’ post-practice press conference, even if the injury wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.
“Thank God it was not a full patellar tendon rupture,” Canales said. “But there’s an injury there, so it’s something that we’re gonna have to rehab with him, but we’re gonna take it week-to-week, and kind of see if we can get him back out there and work this camp.”
Zavala’s absence, while concerning for the moment, lets the line’s depth shine as training camp keeps chugging along in its second week, Canales said.
“A lot of the guys, they’re getting opportunities,” Canales said. “I think of (Ja’Tyre) Carter — he’s been getting some guard reps in there. And Brady (Christensen) can kind of work in and across the whole offensive line, but Jarrett Kingston’s been working at guard there as well.”
Canales added: “Chandler was having such a great camp. A couple of days. looking strong, looking flexible, really comfortable in our system, too. Just thinking about him and want to get him back out there quickly.”
Here’s what else was notable after Carolina’s practice Tuesday.
Shemar Bartholomew supplies the play of the day
Tuesday’s play of the day was supplied by Shemar Bartholomew.
And what else is new?
The second-year cornerback, who was picked up on waivers a year ago, has done nothing but impress this summer and is continuing that trend with a strong camp. He got his biggest assignment on Tuesday — Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both were present but didn’t participate as part of veteran days off — and delivered throughout.
The play in question was against the first-team offense. Bryce Young stood in a collapsing pocket and fired the ball late over the middle of the field, and Bartholomew made a diving catch to add to his handful of interceptions during summer workouts.
Later in practice, Bartholomew was in tight coverage with Jalen Coker when Young aired out a pass on the run down the right sideline. It was about as good of a throw as you could spin, but Bartholomew came up triumphant again as the ball fell incomplete.
“What a huge day,” Canales said of Bartholomew. “I think with Shemar, understanding the scheme, coming from the Jets out of scheme, spent the year with us kind of learning. He showed up in the Falcons game at the end and made a couple of plays for us there. Couple of big battles with Drake London there in the end zone toward the end of the half.
“But Shemar has taken this offseason (seriously), and had a really good spring. He came into camp and has been steady, but I thought today was a big day for him. Just the thing we’ve been challenging him is to make the play on the ball. You’re in the right spot; have the confidence to go make the play. ... He did that today, and came up with one.”
Derrick Brown doesn’t take part in team drills
The Panthers’ sole Pro Bowler in 2023 who missed pretty much of all of 2024 has had a few bumps in attendance in 2025.
In summer workouts he was present but wasn’t a full-go as he was still recovering from a torn ligament in his knee. Then, despite being healthy and listed as clear for all activities ahead of training, he missed the first two days of camp practice with an excused absence for the birth of his fourth child.
A new update emerged Tuesday after reporters saw him work out on the side while team drills took place, per Canales.
“General soreness, trying to be smart with Derrick,” Canales said. “His knee feels great, you know, just torquing his body in different ways. He’s got some oblique soreness right now. We want to be smart and get ahead of that. It’s not something that we felt like we had to MRI or do anything like that right now, but as we’re trying to work him back into his normal flow, we’ll keep dosing him the right way so we get him in shape for Week 1.”
4 plays that caught everyone’s attention
Here are four other plays that drew attention on Tuesday.
- Jimmy Horn Jr. made the kind of catch that Panthers fans dream of him making in a 7-on-7 rep Tuesday. He streaked down the middle of the field and backup quarterback Andy Dalton floated a ball to him and forced the sixth-round draft pick to leap for it. Upon getting his hands on it, Horn collided with safety Nick Scott; in pads — or especially in a game setting — that could’ve been considered a dangerous play. But the fearless Horn came down with the catch and flexed afterward.
- Center Austin Corbett made several nice plays Tuesday, reading and picking up stunts the Panthers’ defensive line threw at him throughout practice. But the play that stuck out was one that underscored his athleticism. The offense ran a play-action screen pass from QB Dalton to running back Raheem Blackshear, and Corbett slithered through to the second level of the defense without any issue and paved the way for what would’ve been a big gain. Corbett is locked in a close center competition with Cade Mays.
- Nic Scourton’s reputation as a pass rusher and as an edge-sealer in the run game precedes him. And during one play in particular he showed it on Tuesday, as he bull-rushed from the left side against Brady Christensen; he didn’t get all the way to Dalton, but the quarterback had to dump the ball down to the flat on the strong side (Scourton’s), which was made all the more difficult by the pressure coming his way.
- A quick shoutout to cornerback Corey Thornton, who in red zone work had a nice pass break-up on Ja’Tavion Sanders, who was posting up at the goal-line. Young delivered a nice throw but Thornton ultimately prevailed. Very physical play; no flag was thrown, however.
Quick hits
- Adam Thielen — along with the aforementioned Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson — took a veteran rest day. The rest of the receiving corps was busy.
- The Panthers announced that they signed wide receiver Ja’seem Reed and released receiver/special teams ace Dan Chisena with an injury settlement, per the team. Chisena started camp on the physically unable to perform list with a calf injury and was a longshot to make a crowded wideout room even considering his special teams acumen.
- Along the injury front: Bobby Brown III partook in his first live team drills Tuesday after coming off the non-football injury list on Monday. He looked “great,” per Canales. Tight end Tommy Tremble (back) remains on the PUP list but was seen on the field again Tuesday.
- Another day was logged on the kicking competition. Today it was NFL journeyman Matthew Wright kicking from the skinny posts (about half the width of the regular goalposts). He went 3-of-5 on the day. That keeps pace with the rest of his time. He’s now 10 of 15 through three days of kicking. Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald will presumably kick Wednesday; he is 7 of 10 through two reps this training camp.
- Canales said Wednesday will be a bit longer and be another padded practice — the second of this year’s training camp.
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM.
