CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers’ mandatory minicamp was more like a micro-minicamp. If you spent too much time watching workers spread sand on the practice fields under construction, you missed the action on the one field that was available to Dave Canales in his first spring as an NFL head coach.
Advertisement
Originally scheduled for three days, Canales cut it to two — although players will be at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday for meetings and maybe a walk-through before getting turned loose for the summer.
Still, there was a noticeable change in the intensity level during the minicamp practices, which lasted longer and featured more competitive team periods than the OTA sessions that were open to the media over the previous three weeks. Part of that was because some of the key players who missed all or part of the optional OTAs were back in town, including edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, right guard Robert Hunt and kicker Eddy Pineiro.
A look at 13 things we learned during minicamp:
1. Diontae Johnson has a different gear.
The Panthers’ receivers last season had an uncanny knack for staying stuck to coverage. That inability to separate prompted the trade for Johnson, a shifty route runner for the Pittsburgh Steelers whose quickness was on display Wednesday. Early in the two-hour practice, Johnson broke free on a corner route and Bryce Young hit him in stride for a long gain. “Having Diontae out there, he brings another element. He’s special,” Canales said. “He knows how to play the game. He’s fast. He gets it, he’s a change of pace and a little bit different than the guys that we have.”
🧃 up!@Juiceup__3 | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/UNnmdEN7ia
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 12, 2024
2. That’s a start, but Xavier Legette is needed, too.
The first-round pick from South Carolina sat out after missing the last couple of weeks of OTAs with a hamstring issue. Canales said if this had been a game week, Legette likely would have practiced and played. The Panthers were smart to be cautious with Legette, who will have plenty of time in July and August to develop chemistry with Young and prepare for his first season. But if Legette misses training camp practices with soft-tissue woes, it will be problematic.
Advertisement
3. Raheem Blackshear has fight.
The third-year player is one of the smallest guys on the roster at 5-9 and 190 pounds. But the former Virginia Tech running back didn’t back down from the 6-5, 255-pound Clowney when the two got into it after a Young touchdown pass. Blackshear could have a tough time making the roster with the running back additions this spring. But he likely earned the respect of his teammates Wednesday.
GO DEEPER
Panthers pressure cooker: 10 returning players who need to excel in 2024
4. Follow these guys.
After stretching and before individual drills begin, the Panthers run a few sprints to get the juices flowing. Defensive lineman Derrick Brown and running back Chuba Hubbard are always out front setting the tone. Canales mentioned those two and tight end Tommy Tremble as players “at the front of what we’re talking about trying to push the tempo.”
5. Bryce Young’s not going to just talk to talk.
A day after Clowney called Young a “quiet guy” who needs to bring the energy, last year’s No. 1 pick discussed his leadership style. The former Alabama standout said he’s not the type who’s going to stand in front of a mirror practicing a speech, but will “fill in the gaps” as needed. “If we’re in a spot where the energy’s low, my responsibility is to make sure to bring it up. If it’s too high, it’s my responsibility to make sure we’re focused and locked in.” But Young’s not afraid to raise his voice and show his emotions, as he did at Soldier Field in November after a dreadful loss to the Chicago Bears.
GO DEEPER
Panthers' Bryce Young growing as a leader — in the locker room and the community
6. Eddy Pineiro wants (or maybe wanted) a new contract.
Pineiro didn’t say that specifically, calling his absence from OTAs a private matter between him and the team. But when guys skip OTAs during a contract year, it’s almost always about the contract. Pineiro’s 89.0 percent field goal percentage is the third best in NFL history, behind Justin Tucker (90.18) and Harrison Butker (89.14). But Pineiro is the NFL’s 20th-highest-paid kicker at $2.05 million a year, well behind Tucker’s top-of-the-market $6 million figure and Butker’s $4.05 million average. The Panthers don’t seem inclined to give Pineiro a new deal and signed undrafted free agent Harrison Mevis to compete with him. Pineiro said he plans to be back in Charlotte for the start of training camp.
7. Which is when the kicking competition will get interesting.
Mevis (aka “the Thiccer Kicker”) made the most of his opportunities this spring, going 20-for-20 on field goals during the open practices. Pineiro wasn’t as sharp with a 2-for-4 showing Wednesday, although he did make his longest try from 50-plus yards. But the June kicks mean little compared with what each guy does in the preseason. Pineiro talked like he expected to keep his job. “I want to have a great season this year. I’m the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history right now. My goal’s to be No. 1. That’s how I’m gonna attack this offseason.”
Advertisement
8. Shaq Thompson is recovering from two surgeries.
Besides returning from a broken ankle that ended his 2023 season in Week 2, the veteran linebacker revealed he also had groin surgery during the offseason to correct an issue that first bothered him in 2020. Thompson appeared to be at full strength at minicamp and said he felt “amazing” physically.
Shaq Thompson says it was different at first not having Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Donte Jackson in the locker room. But likes the energy in the building and says everyone’s “on the same page.” pic.twitter.com/VGamXLmk3n
— Joe Person (@josephperson) June 12, 2024
9. He also feels good about the defense.
Thompson said it was weird not seeing Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Donte Jackson in the locker room anymore. But he likes what he’s seen from the newcomers, nearly all of whom have ties to defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. That familiarity has helped. “This team came together pretty fast. There’s a lot of guys that played in this defense before. It’s amazing for them to come over and translate the terminology they had, whether it was (from) the Rams or the Broncos. So that’s a blessing. Everybody’s getting along. Everybody’s cool. The young guys are great. … Everything’s been great.”
GO DEEPER
Person: Panthers need Jadeveon Clowney to stay healthy, make plays and lead
10. That said, the edge rushers group is lacking.
The Panthers received good news with DJ Johnson, who left Tuesday’s practice on the back of a cart with his knee wrapped. But Canales said Johnson’s injury is not considered serious. But with D.J. Wonnum (quad) not expected to be ready for the start of camp, Evero needs another outside linebacker to emerge or Clowney is going to be seeing a lot of chip blocks and extra attention. Expect Dan Morgan to keep a close eye on the waiver wire, where the Panthers have first dibs through the first three weeks of the season.
11. Dane Jackson has a chance.
The Panthers might still sign Stephon Gilmore or another veteran corner. Until then, Jackson has been getting plenty of reps. The former Bill (whom Morgan pounded the table for in Buffalo) made a nice play Wednesday when he broke up a pass for Terrace Marshall Jr. at the goal line.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign up
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox. Sign up
Buy
12. Terrace Marshall Jr. is trying to hang on.
Marshall requested a trade last season while buried in the receivers rotation. But there were no takers, and now Marshall is trying to make a good impression with a new staff. The second-round pick from 2021 pulled in a touchdown from Young on a short crosser in the end zone during goal-line work. And though Marshall also had a drop, Canales said the former LSU wideout has had a “fantastic last couple of weeks.”
13. Johnny Hekker can still sling it.
The 34-year-old punter was a high school quarterback and has completed 15 of 24 passes over his 12-year career on fakes and broken plays. Hekker and long snapper J.J. Jansen were throwing to the defensive backs during individual drills, all of which were tight spirals. Hekker later showed touch on a TD pass to offensive tackle Ricky Lee on a fake field goal.
(Photo of Dave Canales: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
