Several players returned to practice for the Carolina Panthers on Monday, while a handful remained sidelined with injuries. Cornerback Jaycee Horn was among those back on the field after having stitches removed from his left thumb following a car accident over a week ago. Head coach Dave Canales noted that Horn participated in team drills, although he continued catching passes one-handed as a precaution.
Linebacker Claudin Cherelus, guard Chandler Zavala, and defensive tackle Cam Jackson also returned after recent absences. All three may be available for Thursday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We’ll push them tomorrow and then we’ll have more information tomorrow evening after we kind of get through all that to see where they’re at, but if they come out and they check the boxes and those are guys that’ll play,” Canales said.
Some players did not participate in Monday’s session, including rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring), defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (knee), and outside linebacker DJ Johnson (hip). Canales described McMillan’s injury as not serious, attributing his absence partly to workload management after recent imaging showed no major concerns. “Yeah, TMac had a really sore hamstring; the imaging looked fine, but he’s just kind of all stoved up,” Canales said. “He’s been taking a lot of reps, a few series more than the rest of the starters, just to get him the game reps. And just between that and the practices, he’s been working like crazy. I thought we’d shut him down for a couple of days and then turn him back around.”
Canales indicated there is hope Brown and Johnson could return to practice Tuesday.
Defensive end LaBryan Ray (ankle) and tight end Tommy Tremble (back) continued individual work on the side. Tremble appeared close to returning as he worked with performance staff during practice.
Quarterback Andy Dalton threw passes during individual drills despite an elbow issue sustained in Saturday’s game against Houston when Texans defender Danielle Hunter struck his arm during a throw to McMillan. Canales explained that Dalton suffered more of a muscle strain than an elbow injury and remains day-to-day for soreness recovery: “It was a mild deal,” Canales said. “The imaging looked pretty solid, and we just kind of are taking him day to day for the soreness to kind of resolve itself. So he started the practice, threw a little bit, then we shut him down for the rest of it.” If this were a regular-season week, Dalton would be expected to play.
The competition between kickers Matthew Wright and Ryan Fitzgerald will continue through Thursday’s preseason game versus Pittsburgh. Both have alternated opportunities throughout training camp practices as well as in preseason games so far—Fitzgerald has made both field goal attempts from 32 yards and 52 yards respectively; Wright missed his lone attempt from 55 yards but leads in kickoff average distance.
The Panthers must reduce their roster size to 53 players by next Tuesday.
Running back Rico Dowdle reflected on his training camp performance after joining Carolina this offseason following a 1,000-yard season elsewhere. While Dowdle has shown flashes splitting time with Chuba Hubbard—including five carries for nine yards plus three catches for 35 yards—he expressed dissatisfaction with his output so far: “Getting some explosives, so I mean I had a couple good catches that was it,” Dowdle said Monday following practice. “But I’m talking about as far as running game wise, I haven’t really got much going, so good would look like having some explosives, moving the chains getting some first downs and things like that.”
Despite Dowdle’s addition giving Carolina two backs coming off 1,000-yard seasons—a duo considered strong by most standards—the team’s running back group was recently ranked near the bottom league-wide in one poll. Dowdle responded: “They definitely sleeping,” he said about outside perceptions.” But you know, that’s an opinion. Honestly I don’t really get caught up too much in it, only time will tell and we’ll see when the season starts.”
