This Panthers rookie was Bijan Robinson’s high school teammate. He knows what to do
Before the morning bell would ring at Salpointe Catholic High School, you’d see three or four students out on the school’s football field, getting a workout in, bringing out the best in one another.
Two, specifically, were always out there.
One was Lathan Ransom, now a rookie safety for the Carolina Panthers.
And the other was Bijan Robinson.
Yes, that Bijan Robinson.
Back before Ransom and Robinson were household names at Ohio State and Texas, respectively — and back before they were NFL players set to face off Sunday when the Panthers welcome the Falcons to Charlotte in Week 3 — Ransom and Robinson were two high school teammates and classmates tearing up fields across their hometown of Tucson, Arizona, chasing the same dream.
Ask Ransom about those days, and the hard-hitting rookie will smile.
“I just think the way that we competed at practice is something that I’ll never forget,” Ransom told The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday. “And I’ll never take it for granted — the way that we pushed each other and competed and found ways to keep making each other better.”
Ransom then told a story.
“Me, him and another teammate of ours would show up before school, do one-on-ones, run routes with our quarterbacks and stuff like that,” Ransom recalled of Robinson. “And so from then to now, it’s helped make us into the players we are now. And it’s going to continue making us be great players.”
The two have been with each other through a lot. Ransom was cheering on Robinson as he shared the Arizona high school rushing record; Robinson was on the sideline at the Cotton Bowl — the college football semifinals — to support Ransom while he and the Ohio State Buckeyes stormed to a national championship victory.
And on Sunday, something new is going to happen: They’ll play against each other for the first time.
And Ransom knows what to do.
“It always comes down to running and tackling,” Ransom said, of corraling his old high school teammate but also having a stout run defense in general. “That’s what we’re going to have to do: run, tackle. When the first guy comes, other guys are going to have to fly around, help get him on the ground.”
A player like Bijan Robinson is ‘so talented’
Such a feat might be easier said than done.
How tough?
Like ... Saquon Barkley-level tough.
“You know what’s crazy?” linebacker Trevin Wallace said. “I was just talking to somebody at practice about this. Believe it or not, I think Bijan and Saquon (Barkley) are head-to-head. But I’ll give it to Bijan.
“They’re both great running backs. I’ve played against both of them. ... I just don’t know why, but I’ll give it to Bijan.”
Others have said the same — with glowing rationale.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris called Robinson “definitely the best player in football in my head.” The Atlanta coach shed a biased smile. “I don’t care. He’s unbelievable. I love the kid. I love everything about him.”
Barkley himself was equally effusive.
“There’s nobody who’s able to cut like Bijan in the NFL,” Barkley said in a widely circulated video via NFL Top 100. “There’s not. You can go argue with your mom about that. I’m gonna be honest. And you know, trust me, I love myself. And I think I have great cuts. ... It’s finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.”
Robinson is coming off a Week 2 performance in which he took 22 carries for 143 yards and added three receptions for 25 yards in a win over the Vikings. He’s also coming off a year in which he absolutely obliterated the Panthers. In two games against Carolina, here was his stat line: 43 carries for 265 yards and four touchdowns.
Head coach Dave Canales said that the way to get a guy like Robinson from gashing this Panthers defense — a defense that only gave up 82 yards rushing last week after seven straight 200-plus yard games allowed — is to play “team football.”
Safety Nick Scott elaborated on that point.
“A guy like him, he’s so talented,” Scott said. “It comes back down to communication at the beginning. Everybody’s gotta be on the same page. The next thing after that is your leverage. You have to be on the right side of the ball, right side of your man. And then everyone’s gotta have great effort. If you can play with good communication, leverage and effort — play in and play out — you’re going to like the results.”
Even against a guy like Bijan Robinson.
Here’s what else you need to know from Wednesday’s practice.
Tetairoa McMillan ‘is not worried at all’ about Xavier Legette
It’s no secret that Xavier Legette hasn’t had the best start to 2025. He couldn’t keep his feet in bounds in key moments; his on-field awareness has been called into question; the slump he’s been in since his promising rookie season has vexed people into asking: Should he be benched?
But throughout the calamity surrounding the second-year receiver, there’s been one consistent message of belief from the Panthers.
From the head coach, all the way down to the rookies.
Start with standout rookie Tetairoa McMillan.
“Oh man, I’m not worried about him at all,” McMillan told reporters at his locker Wednesday. “I know that come Sunday, he’s going to show up. The main thing for me, what I see, is his confidence. He’s a confident dude. And he’s staying confident regardless of the outcome, regardless of whatever is going on.
“We all preach, ‘The ball will find you.’ And I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll come out on Sunday and make plays and be the reason why this team is doing so good. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him, for sure.”
That message of belief was everywhere in the Panthers’ building Wednesday. Canales answered to it several times.
He was even asked how to coach up a player who has perhaps never experienced the volume of criticism Legette has in the last 48 hours — and Canales didn’t hesitate.
“Just be the same guy,” Canales said. “It’s about the work. I truly believe that hard work pays off. I’ve seen that happen for players who just continue to battle. You just continue to improve. You attack every day with focus, you attack every day with hard work. He’s doing all the right things. And we got his back.”
Canales added that getting Legette’s groove back is to “keep pounding” — invoking the Panthers’ battle cry — before holding himself accountable, too.
“This is not all on X,” Canales said. “I need to make sure I do a great job of putting him in positions to do the things that he’s shown us he can do well in the past.”
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Catching you up on Panthers injuries
The Panthers were hit by the injury bug on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, no doubt. That game saw two starting offensive linemen get moved to the injured reserve — guard Robert Hunt (biceps) and center Austin Corbett (knee/MCL) — and a few others get banged up. Here’s an official look at Wednesday’s injury report:
- Pat Jones II did not participate in practice thanks to a hamstring injury, the team said. The pass rusher was off to the side seen working out with defensive end LaBryan Ray and receiver Jalen Coker, both of whom are on IR.
- Turk Wharton, sidelined with a hamstring injury in the middle of the Week 1 contest, did not participate in practice Wednesday. The defensive lineman’s timetable to return was “two to four weeks,” Canales said.
- Legette was limited in practice after his hamstring flared up on him a bit, Canales said after practice.
- Receiver Brycen Tremayne was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice but still made the injury report with a quad injury.
- Cornerback Jaycee Horn and receiver Hunter Renfrow were both limited in practice Wednesday; they both had veteran rest days, per the team.
Quick hits
- Cade Mays will get the start Sunday in the injured Austin Corbett’s stead. What the former Panthers draft pick said Wednesday of his chemistry with quarterback Bryce Young: “Pick up where we left off. I had plenty of reps with him during camp. Through OTAs and stuff. So, it’s just another day.”
- The Panthers will be donning their black helmets in their home-opener against the Falcons. Players were wearing the fan-favorite helmet at practice Monday.
Mike Kaye contributed to this report.
