The 7 things we’ve learned about the Carolina Panthers in training camp

[Icege]

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Because of the fieldhouse construction at the practice fields, Saturday marked the only opportunity for fans to see the Panthers in person during training camp — this summer and next. A good-sized crowd — more than 45,500 tickets were distributed — watched the rain stop just before the team took the field for the scrimmage-like practice.

What they saw was mostly a microcosm of the first two weeks of camp — a steady performance by Bryce Young, some good and bad from rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and physical play by a defense that was the NFL’s worst in 2024.

As the Panthers prepare to welcome the Cleveland Browns for a joint practice and preseason game this week, a look at seven things we’ve learned through the first two weeks.

• 1. Young is in a better place than last summer
  During training camp last year, Young was learning his second offense and working with his third play caller since the Panthers drafted him No. 1 in the spring of 2023. It didn’t help that his only reps in a preseason game came on the opening drive at Buffalo during the third exhibition. When Young looked listless and ineffective during a pair of blowout losses to begin the season, Canales benched him in favor of Andy Dalton. Fast forward to this summer, when Young has demonstrated a command of and comfort level in Canales’ system. That’s not to say he’s been on-point every practice: Nickel Chau Smith-Wade baited him into an end-zone interception last week. But Canales likes the way Young is running the offense, hitting most of his throws and making off-platform throws — his signature at Alabama and over the second half of last season.
   
• 2. Kicking competition is going to last a while longer
  The sense here has been that undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald is the favorite to win the kicking job, and you wondered how long the Panthers would keep two kickers on the roster. But after Fitzgerald went only 1-of-3 on field goals during FanFest, it’s reasonable to think Canales will keep the competition open through at least the first preseason game or two.
   
• 3. Don't crown Princely just yet — and don't bury Ickey
  Princely Umanmielen, the third-round pick from Ole Miss, created a stir during the first practice by beating left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and inadvertently making contact with Young, causing him to fumble. Umanmielen got by Ekwonu on an inside move the following day, causing some consternation among fans on social media — which Umanmielen tried to shoot down by defending Ekwonu. It’s also worth mentioning that those plays came during shorts-and-helmets sessions, when defensive linemen typically have the upper hand. During Saturday’s full-pads practice, Ekwonu did a nice job locking his arms out against Umanmielen and protecting Young’s blind side. Still, you have to think Umanmielen — with his length, bend and explosive first step — is going to make an impact as a rookie.
   
• 4. Dan Morgan may have uncovered another undrafted gem
  Anyone who attended FanFest got a long look at undrafted cornerback Corey Thornton, who saw a bunch of first-team work with Jaycee Horn getting the night off. The Panthers love the 6-1 Thornton’s length and physicality, which was on display Saturday with his press-man coverage against McMillan, the first-round pick from Arizona. Thornton played four seasons at UCF before transferring to Louisville last year. He’s impressed coaches with how he goes about his business.
   
• 5. The Panthers also may have found a couple of dawgs
  The Panthers’ safeties weren’t particularly good at tackling last season. But Moehrig and Ransom don’t mind lowering their shoulders into teammates — sometimes when coaches would prefer they don’t. That was the case Saturday when Ransom, a fourth-round pick from Ohio State, came in high to hit receiver T.J. Luther in the end zone on an incompletion. That prompted a tackling lesson from Canales. “I love the physical play. (But) that’s gotta be a left shoulder hit,” he said. “You try to get your right shoulder across, your head will be involved. You will be getting mail from the league office. It’s an educational process.”

• 6. Panthers' receiving corps is deeper — and faster
  Young has more playmakers around him this year. That means even on nights like Saturday, when McMillan never got untracked, there are other guys to step up in the passing game. Xavier Legette caught a short throw from Young and took off through the middle of the defense for a 40-yard touchdown. Jimmy Horn, the sixth-round pick from Colorado, pulled down a pair of TD passes from Andy Dalton.

• 7. A few other young guys to watch
  Rookie running back Trevor Etienne made a nice cut Saturday to get to the second level, where a defender knocked the ball loose (it appeared to be after the play had been whistled dead). Etienne, a fourth-round pick and the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, is expected to displace Raheem Blackshear as a returner and No. 3 back. Bam Martin-Scott, an undrafted rookie from South Carolina, made a shoestring catch to intercept Jack Plummer late in FanFest. Martin-Scott seems like a lock to make the roster as a depth linebacker and special teams regular. Former Stanford WR Brycen Tremayne has made the most of his reps. The 6-4, 212-pounder spent the last two years on Washington’s practice squad, and should get opportunities in the preseason games.

[ImfromClayton]

Man I don’t think we are going to be particularly good, but this does feel like we have an actual NFL roster for the first time in a while. 

[CRA]

46 minutes ago, ImfromClayton said:

Man I don’t think we are going to be particularly good, but this does feel like we have an actual NFL roster for the first time in a while. 

if you compared the talk this time of year with the last 2 seasons (what the Panthers were putting out and what we thought).......

It would probably rank

2023

2025

2024

That's why it's hard to buy in.  And our O practices against weak NFL comp so it's always hard to tell.  I really hope Canales borderline overplays our guys this preseason.  Basically everyone not named Brown/Horn.   

[BlazeCarolina]

16 minutes ago, CRA said:

if you compared the talk this time of year with the last 2 seasons (what the Panthers were putting out and what we thought).......

It would probably rank

2023

2025

2024

That's why it's hard to buy in.  And our O practices against weak NFL comp so it's always hard to tell.  I really hope Canales' borderline overplays our guys this preseason. 

Idunno man.  I feel like that Shaq gif lately and I don't remember feeling this way in a long time.  Maybe I am forgetting the hopium high of 23'.

https://tenor.com/view/yes-ayye-zoom-shoulder-shake-gif-14839794

Edited August 4 by BlazeCarolina

[PappyMay]

I actually feel decent about our offseason. Would love ILB, FS, and CB depth to get addressed.  Hoping for 8-9 type season and only be blown out once or twice.

[TD alt]

16 minutes ago, CRA said:

if you compared the talk this time of year with the last 2 seasons (what the Panthers were putting out and what we thought).......

It would probably rank

2023

2025

2024

That's why it's hard to buy in.  And our O practices against weak NFL comp so it's always hard to tell.  I really hope Canales borderline overplays our guys this preseason.  Basically everyone not named Brown/Horn.   

There's literally nothing they can do during preseason that will make me buy in. Win in September, and then maybe I'll begin to get excited.

[CRA]

3 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

Idunno man.  I feel like that Shaq gif lately and I don't remember feeling this way in a long time.  Maybe I am forgetting the hopium high of 23'.

https://tenor.com/view/yes-ayye-zoom-shoulder-shake-gif-14839794

2023 was nuts.  That was the all star staff, roster that rivaled 2003, Bryce already operating like a 8 year vet, and on and on.  OL was supposed to build off of that finish w/ Wilks.   It was supposed to be glorious per the hype machine.   

You could start sniffing out the reality though once preseason games started up though that year. 

[LinvilleGorge]

31 minutes ago, CRA said:

And our O practices against weak NFL comp so it's always hard to tell.  

This is always the conundrum of camp. If this guy or this unit is looking good, is it because he's good or is it because the opposing unit is trash? It makes it even tougher when you're a historically bad team with few proven pieces. I mean, if a youngster is looking good against a proven player or unit that gives you a pretty good measuring stick. We just don't have many good measuring sticks.

[CRA]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

This is always the conundrum of camp. If this guy or this unit is looking good, is it because he's good or is it because the opposing unit is trash? It makes it even tougher when you're a historically bad team with few proven pieces. I mean, if a youngster is looking good against a proven player or unit that gives you a pretty good measuring stick. We just don't have many good measuring sticks.

it's like taking in the Tmac highlight of the great catch down the sideline.....as he is still largely blanketed by a dude that shouldn't be on the field covering a teams "#1".  How hype can I get.....and the one real question about Tmac is can he separate from NFL DBs. 

Hopefully the Browns play there starters.  That's what I want to see.  

[BlazeCarolina]

6 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

This is always the conundrum of camp. If this guy or this unit is looking good, is it because he's good or is it because the opposing unit is trash? It makes it even tougher when you're a historically bad team with few proven pieces. I mean, if a youngster is looking good against a proven player or unit that gives you a pretty good measuring stick. We just don't have many good measuring sticks.

I feel like Jaycee Horn is a good one.  Would love to see a compilation of him vs TMac from camp.

Moton is solid.

Still...we talkin' bout practice.

[BlazeCarolina]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

it's like taking in the Tmac highlight of the great catch down the sideline.....as he is still largely blanketed by a dude that shouldn't be on the field covering a teams "#1".  How hype can I get.....and the one real question about Tmac is can he separate from NFL DBs. 

Hopefully the Browns play there starters.  That's what I want to see.  

I thought we were one of the only teams playing starters like this.  Has that changed?

[CRA]

3 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

I thought we were one of the only teams playing starters like this.  Has that changed?

I have no idea.....I know last year Mahomes, Allen, etc played games 1 and 2 .....and sat the last game.  Carolina basically ran opposite of most (played starters only game 3 and everyone else sat them) 

I would assume we are getting on the more normal train of thought this year. 

[mrcompletely11]

37 minutes ago, TD alt said:

There's literally nothing they can do during preseason that will make me buy in. Win in September, and then maybe I'll begin to get excited.

I've seen this movie,the remake, the prequel etc far too many times.   Just fuging win and stop with the goddamn lip service.  Every32 teams are putting out poo like this just go 2-2 after the first 4 and then let's talk

[CarolinaLivin]

10 minutes ago, BlazeCarolina said:

I thought we were one of the only teams playing starters like this.  Has that changed?

It definitely sounds like it so far. Rams, Falcons announced they won’t be playing most starters. Browns don’t know who QB1 is so i think most will play, obviously don’t expect myles g. Out there or other stars, but they should play some starters.