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Biggest takeaways from Panthers’ 2nd joint practice with Patriots

anthony rizzuti
·5 min read

After a combative outing on their first day out, the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots met again on Wednesday for their second joint practice. And, uh, the combat didn’t really go away.

Here are the biggest takeaways from another chippy morning in Foxboro.

Panthers dealing with more injuries

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Despite a handful of bang-ups, the Panthers have been lucky enough to avoid any major injuries this summer. That luck continued with center Bradley Bozeman.

Bozeman, who was carted away from yesterday’s practice with an ankle injury, will likely only miss two to three weeks according to head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule added that he and his staff initially thought the injury was much worse.

Additionally, wideouts Robbie Anderson (quad) and Terrace Marshall Jr. (hamstring) also sat out for the session. Carolina was without tight end Tommy Tremble as well, poking yet another potential hole at an already thin tight end group.

QB competition is still on

AP Photo/Steven Senne

Another day, another non-decision under center.

Rhule, out of respect to his guys, didn’t divulge any pertinent details of the team’s ongoing quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.

“I think the thing I’ve said all along is, ya know, I wanted to at least get to this point—when we know, we know,” he said. “It could be at any point. It could be two more weeks from now, it could be now. I know that’s not the answer you guys want and I’m not saying it’s two weeks from now. I’m just saying we’re just making sure we’re thorough.

“Coming off the field like this, we’ll make sure you always watch the tape and see where we are. We have a really good plan. We’re not winging it. We have a really good plan. And I just sometimes don’t feel at liberty to share it out of respect for the guys.”

He did, however, tell reporters that their plan for Friday’s exhibition against the Patriots will see many of the second and third-team players take the field.

Kenny Robinson may be in trouble

AP Photo/Steven Senne

And another day, another fight.

For the second straight practice, the Panthers and Patriots got involved in a few fierce skirmishes. The whopper of the session, which stemmed from a cheap shot to running back Christian McCaffrey, started to boil when safety Kenny Robinson put a hit on New England wideout Kristian Wilkerson during live kickoff drills.

Robinson was ejected, just as he was on Tuesday, and could be on the outs. Rhule did not rule out cutting the 23-year-old defender, perhaps similarly to how he did J.T. Ibe last summer.

Notable observations

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Story originally appeared on Panthers Wire