Tag: Omar Bayless

Panthers injury updates: WR Seth Roberts, WR Omar Bayless

The Panthers wide receiver corps is taking some hits at training camp. 

The Panthers wide receiver corps is taking some hits at training camp.

After today’s practice, coach Matt Rhule told reporters undrafted rookie Omar Bayless will need surgery to repair the issue that’s been causing swelling in his knee and keeping him off the field the last few days.

Just brutal. Bayless had a strong shot to make the 53-man roster based on his strong start to camp. Now that seems unlikely. Assuming Bayless goes on IR, the best candidate to earn that spot is now likely Tommylee Lewis, another connection with Joe Brady from New Orleans.

Because it’s 2020, it gets worse.

In related news, another receiver was added to what would normally be an official injury report during the preseason. Rhule says Seth Roberts is currently in the concussion protocol.

These two updates come on the heels of more bad news at wide receiver. Keith Kirkwood will be out for several weeks with a broken clavicle (also requiring surgery) and could miss Week 1 against the Raiders. Curtis Samuel is also dealing with a hamstring issue.

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Panthers 2020 training camp: 6 takeaways from Saturday’s scrimmage

The Carolina Panthers practiced inside Bank of America Stadium this morning and played their first scrimmage of training camp.

The Carolina Panthers practiced inside Bank of America Stadium this morning and played their first scrimmage of training camp.

Here are six takeaways from the media on-hand.

Teddy Bridgewater’s strong start

There probably won’t be many highlights coming out of this practice due to restrictions on what reporters are allowed to show this year. So, we will have to settle for a box score for now. For what it’s worth, Bridgewater had a fine day based on the raw stats.

The Riot Report says he started 9/13 for 159 yards and two touchdowns and had another wiped out by a penalty.

Strong numbers, but they should be taken with an unhealthy dose of salt as Bridgewater faced backups as well as starters. Also, some analysts are projecting the Panthers will have the NFL’s worst defense this year, so odds are they are going to make a lot of quarterbacks look good.

That said, this is another positive sign for Bridgewater, who has done everything right so far – including staying late to get extra reps in. He continued that trend today.

Things can always change once the live games begin. Right now, this looks and sounds a lot like it’s Teddy Bridgewater’s team.

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Panthers injury updates: LB Shaq Thompson, WR Omar Bayless

Panthers injury updates: LB Shaq Thompson, WR Omar Bayless still out at practice for training camp.

The Panthers are practicing in shells today instead of full pads. The offense is currently working outside while the defense practices inside the bubble.

Here are a few injury updates from the beat reporters on the scene.

LB Shaq Thompson

First up, the most significant player to watch right now is linebacker Shaq Thompson, who sat out yesterday after leaving Tuesday’s practice early. Coach Matt Rhule says Thompson is dealing with tightness in the groin. Today, he continued working on the side with trainers to start practice.

Our best guess is this is nothing serious and if there were a game on Sunday Thompson would be in the lineup.

Update:

Thompson participated in position drills inside the bubble.

WR Omar Bayless

Rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless is our favorite to win the team’s last wide receiver spot. This was the third practice in a row that he’s missed due to swelling in his knee, though.

With no preseason games and no in-person rookie minicamp to prepare, every rep at training camp this year is precious for undrafted players like Bayless. This will not help his chances of making the roster.

DT Bravvion Roy

On a positive note, sixth-round pick Bravvion Roy returned to practice after sitting out yesterday with a stomach bug.

Roy played for Rhule at Baylor and could see serious playing time this season if first-round pick Derrick Brown gets injured.

TE Temarrick Hemingway

Tight end Temarrick Hemingway missed several practices in the concussion protocol. Yesterday he was cleared for non-contact work, which put him in a green jersey, also being sported by quarterbacks under Rhule. Today, Hemingway was back in blue, clearing him for full contact.

With Andrew Vollert getting waived to make room for former Cowboys defensive end Jalen Jelks, Hemingway is still in the running for a spot on a relatively weak depth chart at tight end.

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Panthers‌ ‌injury‌ ‌updates:‌ ‌WR‌ ‌Omar‌ ‌Bayless,‌ ‌LB‌ ‌Jordan‌ ‌Kunaszyk‌ ‌

After practice, coach Matt Rhule gave the media some injury news on each of them.

The Panthers had three players who did not participate in today’s practice – rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless sat out, as did linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk and tight end Temarrick Hemingway.

They were all wearing red jerseys – which now denote injuries – while quarterbacks wear green.

After practice, coach Matt Rhule gave the media some injury news on each of them. Apparently Bayless’ knee got swollen overnight, which was why he was held out. As for Kunaszyk, he is dealing with an ankle issue.

Bayless had been performing well, drawing praise from Rhule as well as a lot of his older, more experienced teammates. Despite the setback, his chances of making the 2020 roster should be as good as any of the rookies on offense. Bayless’ size (6-foot-3) and wingspan (76.880 inches) make him a red zone weapon that the Panthers can’t easily replicate.

Kunaszyk looked sharp during the preseason last year, which helped secure his place on the roster. This year, it’s a tougher sell with no exhibition games plus several new young linebackers competing for a spot. Kunaszyk is likely on the bubble, but right now we believe he will make it.

As for Hemingway, he is still in the concussion protocol. He is probably in danger of being cut and every day he misses will hurt his chances more.

In related news, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood will be out several weeks with a broken clavicle and left tackle Russell Okung has some back tightness but isn’t expected to miss any time.

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5 takeaways from Panthers coach Matt Rhule’s Friday press conference

Panthers coach Matt Rhule just wrapped up another Zoom press conference.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule just wrapped up another Zoom press conference. Here are a few takeaways from his remarks with the media.

No plans for voluntary bubble

First up, Rhule says he thought about having a voluntary bubble for players available during the season but ultimately decided against it.

Carolina is one of six NFL teams that have not yet had a positive test.

Praise for top three draft picks

After losing so many defensive veterans, Rhule will need to rely on his 2020 rookie class as much as any coach in the league. That means the team’s early-round picks will all have to pick things up quick. Rhule says first-round pick Derrick Brown and second-rounders Yetur Gross-Matos and Jeremy Chinn have stepped in and done a nice job.

As far as playing time goes, Brown is the only sure thing of the bunch right now. However, Gross-Matos and Chinn both should have a legitimate chance to earn a starting spot Week 1.

WR Omar Bayless is learning

The roster Rhule has been given is lean in a lot of places. One area he won’t have to worry as much is wide receiver, arguably the deepest position group on the team.

In addition to a strong 1-2-3 combination of D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel and Robby Anderson, there’s some potential further down the depth chart. Rhule says undrafted rookie Omar Bayless is learning the system and complimented his catch radius.

We are predicting Bayless will win the competition for the last wide receiver spot on the team. One reason is his size, which sets him apart from the rest.

A fan of RB Mike Davis

Rhule also went out of his way to praise veteran running back Mike Davis, who he called a pro. Apparently Davis is in the competition to be Christian McCaffrey’s primary backup.

Davis has the most experience at this position. However, the team can still save $3 million by cutting him. He will have to impress to avoid that.

Team will scrimmage ‘once or twice’

In an alternate reality, the Panthers would have opened the preseason last night against the Jaguars. With no exhibition games to get ready for the real thing, teams will have to adjust and create what competition they can.

Rhule says the team will probably scrimmage once or twice because he doesn’t want Week 1 to be their first time doing live tackling.

Speaking of Week 1, the Panthers will be hosting the Raiders. Carolina’s young defense will be put to the test against a team that ranked ninth in offensive DVOA last year.

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Panthers rookie calls Christian McCaffrey ‘unreal in person’

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless says watching McCaffrey work is “unreal in person.”

Christian McCaffrey has blossomed into a bonafide superstar in the NFL. His peers recently voted him the sixth-best player in the entire league. On a Panthers roster that’s undergone a serious youth movement this offseason, McCaffrey is also one of the veteran leaders on this team.

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless says watching McCaffrey work is “unreal in person.”

McCaffrey is obviously the biggest star for this franchise now that Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly are out of the picture.

Bayless is getting some recognition himself, though.

When he was speaking with reporters today via Zoom, second-round pick Jeremy Chinn said Bayless is one of the players who has stood out to him.

Bayless had a productive 2019 season at Arkansas State, finishing second in the nation with 1,653 receiving yards and scoring 17 touchdowns. We are predicting he will win the battle for the last wide receiver spot on the roster.

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Panthers position battles: Who will win the last wide receiver spot?

Here are the players competing to earn the last receiver spot on the team.

The Panthers had an unprecedented offensive coaching overhaul this offseason, hiring a new head coach, offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. With new coaches come new schemes, and Joe Brady has already expressed his desire to utilize multiple receiver sets in Carolina.

The team currently has six receivers all but guaranteed their roster spot this year: DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, Keith Kirkwood, Seth Roberts and Pharoh Cooper. Some are also expected to contribute on special teams, further locking in their role. But multiple receiver sets means keeping more than the traditional six receivers and Panthers have a few dark horses lingering on the bottom of the depth chart.

Now, as training camp gets underway, the battle for the final spot is heating up. Here are the players competing to earn the last receiver spot on the team.

DeAndrew White

DeAndrew White
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

White (six-foot, 185 pounds) comes into the competition with a couple of clear advantages over some of the other options. After going unpicked in the 2015 NFL draft, White floated around multiple teams before finally earning some playing time on the Panthers roster last season. During his four preseason games in 2019, the third-year receiver recorded six catches for 122 yards, including this 54-yard reception from quarterback Will Grier. Not only does White have the advantage of three years of real NFL experience, but he is also the only one with experience as a slot receiver, something important to multiple receiver sets. He also has ability as a kick returner.

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