CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When you’re sipping your morning coffee while getting ready to dive into the Wordle and hear someone softly singing, “Summertime and the livin’s easy,” you know you’ve reached the break in the NFL schedule.
The Carolina Panthers concluded their blink-and-you-missed-it, two-day minicamp last week, used another day for wrap-up meetings and then headed off for a five-week break. When next we see Dave Canales, Bryce Young and company, they’ll be sweating through training camp at the Panthers’ practice facility, which won’t be quite as hot and humid as Spartanburg, S.C., but will still be plenty muggy.
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Canales kept his offseason streak intact by declaring it had been a great day after each of the two-hour practices. The former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator exudes positivity, whether directing the offense, speaking with media or joining assistant coach Jonathan Cooley for a pre-dawn, hot yoga class.
But the 43-year-old Canales also is realistic about his first season as an NFL head coach, aware of the mess he inherited.
“What’s my expectation? That we can play good football, without talking about anything else. We’re not talking about wins and losses. Can we just play good football?” Canales said. “Can we execute the fundamental parts of our offense and defense and special teams? That’s my high hope. And what I see is a group that’s trending toward that.”
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There was some good football in all three phases at times during the three weeks of OTAs and the mandatory minicamp. Some players helped themselves secure spots on the depth chart; others might have taken a step back, in some cases because of injury or absence.
Canales and his staff will have ample time at camp to evaluate the roster further. In the meantime, The Athletic looks at a dozen or so players at select position groups whose stock is up, down or unchanged after the spring.
Wide receiver
Stock up: Diontae Johnson
The former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver arrived in Charlotte pretty much as advertised: a precise route runner who’s quick in and out of his breaks and has a knack for the splash play. Johnson caught a couple of nice throws from Young during minicamp, beating cornerback Jaycee Horn on a crosser to pull in a touchdown on one of them. Johnson has supreme confidence in himself, and got frustrated at times when the ball didn’t come his way in Pittsburgh. But the early chemistry between Johnson and Young was good. Said Johnson: “I told him that as soon as I got here: ‘I’m trying to make you better, bro. We make each other better. Just know I’m gonna always be open. If you look my way, just know I’m gonna be in the right spot.’”
Things we’ll be thinking about all summer: pic.twitter.com/kUN6daH77t
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 13, 2024
Stock down: Xavier Legette
No one’s sounding the alarm over Legette, whom the Panthers took with the last pick in the first round. But the former South Carolina receiver didn’t get a ton of time in the offense after missing the last three weeks with a hamstring issue. The Panthers erred on the side of the caution with the 6-1, 221-pound Legette, which was the right thing to do. But that will make the July and August reps that much more important for a player the Panthers hope can stretch the field. “We’ve gotta get him back out there,” Canales said, “so we can work him through that.”
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Holding steady: Adam Thielen
On the second day of minicamp, Thielen got a step on his defender on an underneath route and plucked a Young pass cleanly with his hands before heading upfield. It wasn’t anything flashy or spectacular. But it was the kind of route and catch that Thielen ran time and again last season as Young’s most trusted receiver. Thielen pulled down 103 of 137 targets for a career-best 75.2 catch percentage and finished with 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. Thielen might not be counted on as much during his age-34 season, but he’ll be a big part of the offense.
Running back
Stock down: Miles Sanders
Sanders’ first season in Charlotte included a coaching change, 15 defeats and the loss of his starting job. And things weren’t much better during the offseason. First, the Panthers used a second-round pick on Texas’ Jonathon Brooks, who was the first running back drafted. Then, they brought in veteran back Rashaad Penny, who was with Canales in Seattle. On top of all that, Sanders was sidelined most of spring with a heel injury that developed while working out on his own and became worse during OTAs. “It’s been a time,” Sanders said. “Just thinking about the season, what I could have done better, what could have went well. But I’m not trying to think about it no more. I’m just here to control what I can control. … I’m just ready to take advantage of my opportunities and ball out this season.”
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Holding steady: Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard says he’s kept the receipts from media members who doubted him early in his career. That includes some from The Athletic, specifically Hubbard’s hands as a pass catcher. But the 25-year-old was solid in all areas last season, rushing for 902 yards and catching 39 passes on 44 targets for 233 yards — all career highs. In a running back room that was restocked over the offseason, Hubbard is the clear leader on the depth chart and the practice field, where Canales praised his effort throughout the spring.
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Defensive front
Stock up: DL Derrick Brown
Brown’s breakout came last fall when he set an NFL record among defensive tackles with 103 tackles. Brown looked very much like the unblockable, havoc-wreaking force he was at Auburn, where he would toss SEC offensive linemen aside like throw pillows. The newly minted, 2020 first-round pick spent the spring showing the new staff he was worth the money (a four-year, $96 million extension). “Coming to work every day, just killing it in the drills, getting after it,” Canales said. “Really pushing himself, especially when he’s tired.”
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Stock down: Outside linebackers not named Jadeveon Clowney
D.J. Wonnum, signed as a free agent to start opposite Clowney, was out all spring with complications from his quadriceps surgery and likely will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. K’Lavon Chaisson, a 2020 Jaguars’ first-round pick, skipped OTAs after signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency. Amare Barno is still working his way back from an ACL injury, while DJ Johnson (knee) and Eku Leota (calf) also missed minicamp with injuries. Maybe Wonnum gets healthy and improves on his eight-sack season in Minnesota last year. Until then, expect GM Dan Morgan to scan the waiver wire (where the Panthers have the top spot for the first three weeks of the season) and keep an eye out for edge rushers available via trade.
Minicamp 😤 pic.twitter.com/z4IBGU74dY
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 11, 2024
Secondary
Stock up: Safety depth
The Panthers re-made their safety room in free agency by releasing starter Vonn Bell and signing Jordan Fuller and Nick Scott, both of whom were in Los Angeles when defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Cooley were on the Rams’ staff. Everyone from Canales to Shaq Thompson mentioned how the familiarity of former Rams and Broncos (where Evero was the DC in 2022) has benefited the defense. But when Fuller and Scott sat out minicamp with undisclosed injuries, Alex Cook joined veteran Xavier Woods and the defense didn’t seem to miss a beat. Cook started two games last year after being signed off the Giants’ practice squad, while Sam Franklin, a holdover from the Matt Rhule era, also has starting experience.
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Special teams
Stock up: Harrison Mevis
All the “Thiccer Kicker” did was make kicks throughout the spring, going 20-for-20 on field goals during the four practices open to the media. Canales said the undrafted rookie from Missouri missed a couple on other days, but quickly bounced back. Mevis has a big leg, as evidence by his SEC-record, 61-yard field goal last season to beat Kansas State. Will he be consistent enough to dethrone Eddy Pineiro when the competition heats up during the preseason?
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Stock down: Eddy Pineiro
Pineiro may have overplayed his hand by skipping OTAs after missing the final two games with a groin injury last season and with a new coaching staff and front office in place. Even after missing two of his four field goals at minicamp, the 28-year-old Pineiro still has to be considered the favorite to win the job. Currently third in NFL history in field goal percentage (behind Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker), Pineiro said his goal is to move up that list.
Holding steady: Johnny Hekker and J.J. Jansen
While everyone focused on the kicking situation, the veteran punter and longtime long snapper kept doing their jobs. They also added to their responsibilities by throwing to defensive backs during individual drills. Time and age eventually will catch up with the 30somethings. But it hasn’t happened yet.
(Photo of Xavier Legette: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
