Panthers camp breakdown: Young dons pads for first time, CB injured at practice

Bryce Young donned shoulder pads for the first time on Monday during the Panthers’ fourth training camp practice on the Wofford College campus.

While Young still couldn’t be touched in his black jersey, the contact around him was taken up a notch from the three previous workouts. Carolina’s roster performed in “thud” drills, which featured plenty of contact but limited tackles to the ground.

With constant contact in the trenches, the defense overpowered the offense early on in team drills, impacting Young’s success as a passer throughout the practice.

TRAINING CAMP PRACTICE RECAPS: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Bryce Young is consistent, at least

Young had another up-and-down day with pressure closing in on him regularly. He was often forced to avoid pressure, and that outlook caused a couple of mistakes. During his first set of team drills, Young started 0 of 2 on throws with a throwaway and an interception over the middle to linebacker Frankie Luvu.

The veteran linebacker made a play on a ball that looked like it was simply being thrown away over the middle. The ball went straight to Luvu with pressure all around Young at the time of the pass. Luvu made an impressive diving catch to secure the turnover.

Young bounced back with a pair of short tosses to tight end Hayden Hurst and wideout Laviska Shenault. Later, Young continued to go back to the well on short throws to Shenault and Hurst in 11-on-11 drills. Young’s best throw during 11-on-11 drills was a fastball strike to Hurst on a seam route. The ball was placed right between Luvu and safety Vonn Bell for an excellent connection.

Young finished 8 of 12 on the day. His four incompletions were the throwaway, the pick, an overthrow and a pass break up by safety Xavier Woods on tight end Ian Thomas to close out practice.

Again, Young’s day wasn’t perfect, but he still looked efficient and accurate for the most part. Through four workouts, he’s completed 33 of 48 passes (68.8%) with three interceptions in 11-on-11 passing reps.

Typically in training camp, defenses are ahead of offenses because the offenses are trying to install several new plays whereas the defense is mostly reacting to the offense. With a rookie quarterback leading the way, it’s not really alarming to see a trio of interceptions from Young or anyone in the first week or so. In fact, while veteran backup Andy Dalton looked very sharp on Monday, he was coming off throwing three interceptions of his own during the previous three practices — two to linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill in teams drills and one to CJ Henderson in individual work.

Young looked sharp during 7-on-7 drills on Monday. He made an excellent downfield heave to DJ Chark for a big completion — the wideout blazed past safety Eric Rowe for the catch — during that set of reps. He also had a terrific dart pass to Hurst.

Young has been fine through four practices. He’s not lighting the world on fire, but he’s also learning a new offense and working with teammates for the first time in pads.

A notable mid-practice injury

Panthers cornerback CJ Henderson, who had gotten off a strong start to camp, walked to the trainers’ tent during individual drills early in practice. According to head coach Frank Reich, Henderson sustained a groin injury, but the severity was unknown immediately after practice. Henderson watched the workout from the sideline after returning from the medical tent.

Along with Henderson, undrafted rookie cornerback Rejzohn Wright was sidelined for the workout with an undisclosed injury. Wright worked with a trainer off to an adjacent field during the practice.

Pass rusher Marquis Haynes (back) was out at practice in his uniform but he didn’t participate for a second straight session. Defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson missed his second consecutive workout with an undisclosed injury.

Guard Austin Corbett (ACL), defensive tackle John Pensini (calf), rookie offensive lineman Chandler Zavala (hamstring) and defensive end Jalen Redmond (undisclosed) were all seen at practice despite being on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Redmond, Zavala and Penisini wore their practice jerseys and worked with trainers during the session.

Former Pro Bowler works out, gets deal

The Panthers worked out linebacker Deion Jones following practice, and agreed to terms with him on a one-year deal shortly thereafter. Jones, a 2017 Pro Bowl selection, played his six seasons in Atlanta before being shipped to Cleveland last season.

The 2016 second-round pick is more of a depth option for the Panthers with Luvu and Shaq Thompson in line to start. Reich said after practice that he likes the inside linebacker group, but he noted that the position could use more depth. The Panthers had Grugier-Hill, last year’s fourth-round pick Brandon Smith and special teams ace Chandler Wooten as the main depth players behind Luvu and Thompson before Jones agreed to terms.

Jones has produced 696 tackles, 11 sacks, 12 interceptions and five forced fumbles in 96 career games (88 starts) during his seven-year career. If the Panthers want to take advantage of Luvu’s versatility and put him at outside linebacker more, Jones could supplement that usage at inside linebacker opposite Thompson.

UPDATE (7:04 p.m.): The Panthers also agreed to terms with defensive tackle Nick Thurman on Monday night. Two corresponding roster moves are needed to make the signings of Thurman and Jones official.

Dalton’s veteran’s day on

In training camp, some veterans get a day or two off midway through the practice schedule to rest. Dalton, a longtime NFL quarterback, had a day “on,” as he tossed several beautiful passes throughout the hot day in Sparkle City.

Dalton connected on his first three passes, including a pair of nice balls to Chark and tight end Tommy Tremble. He also had a phenomenal rainbow-like deep ball to running back Raheem Blackshear, who beat Grugier-Hill, a camp standout, on a wheel route for a touchdown.

Dalton started off camp with a pair of interceptions to Grugier-Hill during the first two practices, so it was nice to see him bounce back and get one by the veteran linebacker.

The new man in town

The Panthers cut Matt Rhule era mainstay, defensive tackle Bravvion Roy, before practice. The four-year player was moved to make room for former Alabama defensive end LaBryan Ray.

The Panthers have seemingly anointed second-year lineman Marquan McCall as their starting nose tackle of the moment. With Roy off the books, and Ray serving as more of a defensive end, Carolina could be set in their starting odd front with McCall, Derrick Brown and Shy Tuttle.

Ray wore No. 67 on Monday. He shares that number with undrafted rookie guard Nash Jensen.

Quick hits

▪ Wideout Terrace Marshall made an impressive diving snag over the middle in a crowded area during 11-on-11 drills. Young found the wideout streaking across the field and hit him with the ball where only he could get to it. Still, Marshall made a great effort to secure the rock. Marshall had a slow start to camp but is quickly picking up his play over the past two workouts.

▪ Safety Sam Franklin gave tight end Tremble a strong shove to the ground after a leaping catch toward the sideline during team drills. Welcome to football contact, everyone!

▪ If you’re in a PPR fantasy league, it might be smart to buy flier stock in Shenault. He catches three or four passes a practice in 11-on-11 drills and cleans up in 7-on-7 work.

▪ Outside linebacker Kobe Jones continues to look impressive. He had another clear would-be sack on Young on Monday. That would be four would-be sacks in four practices if you’re counting at home.

▪ Following practice, rookie linebacker Bumper Pool handled his first-year duties of holding veteran players’ pads. Pool carried Thompson and Luvu’s pads to close out Monday’s practice.

▪ Wideout Adam Thielen has become such a strong safety net for Young that it’s almost boring to watch them connect on the practice field every day. With pressure mounting, Thielen is typically Young’s outlet.

▪ Along with the impressive wheel route catch in team drills, Blackshear looked strong as a runner with “thud” contact. He also drew praise from running backs/assistant head coach Duce Staley in one-on-one pass protection drills.

▪ Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders had a couple of impressive runs each during the workout. Their burst was evident through contact.

▪ In individual drills, safety Vonn Bell had an excellent pass breakup on Hurst. Cornerback Keith Taylor had a pass breakup on an unidentified wideout (sorry) as well.

▪ Wideout Javon Wims, who was signed last week, had a bad drop in team drills. But in individual work, Wims shook up a pair of defensive backs for nice catches. Marshall did a really nice job of beating fellow LSU alum, cornerback Colby Richardson, one an intermediate catch as well during 1-on-1s.

▪ Wideout Damiere Byrd, who returned for his second stint in Carolina this offseason, continues to look good in practice as a receiver. He’s known more as a returner, but Byrd has some offensive chops as well.

More training camp reading:

▪ He’s a huge Carolina Panthers fan and podcaster. He’s also an inspiration

▪ How Panthers lineman went from loading Amazon trucks to signing with hometown team

▪ ‘I need to be here’: Brian Burns on why he’s at Panthers training camp during contract talks

▪ Panthers’ CJ Henderson discusses Carolina’s decision to pass on his fifth-year option

▪ Panthers’ Thompson says new teammate is playing so well he needs to be on the field