Carolina Panthers close bye week with spirited, 90-minute padded practice

The Carolina Panthers went through a spirited, 90-minute practice in full pads Friday before getting the weekend off before resuming preparations Monday for their Jan. 17 divisional-round game.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Friday is the only time the team will work in full pads before their first playoff game and he was pleased with the energy level of his players.

Two players who were lost for the season with knee injuries joined their teammates on the practice field – cornerback Charles Tillman and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin. Tillman, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a torn ACL, encouraged the defensive backs during drills.

Benjamin, who tore his ACL in August at Spartanburg, recently began running again. On Friday Benjamin went through several drills and also did some running while head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion watched.

“It’s been a long time since he had a chance to pop in and watch practice, and it was good to see him moving around like he was,” Rivera said.

Running back Fozzy Whittaker (high ankle sprain) and linebacker A.J. Klein (hamstring) did not practice all week and their status for the playoff game remains in question. Backup cornerback Teddy Williams left practice early to tend to a personal matter.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers close bye week with spirited, 90-minute padded practice."