Tag: Panthers training camp

Biggest takeaways from Panthers HC Matt Rhule’s pre-training camp presser

Here are the biggest takeaways from head coach Matt Rhule’s first Spartanburg press conference of the year.

The first of the Carolina Panthers players are set to arrive at Wofford College tomorrow. But head coach Matt Rhule was already in Spartanburg, S.C. Monday afternoon for his first training camp press conference.

Among other things, Rhule talked quarterback rep distribution, defensive growth and special teams acquisitions.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Rhule’s session with the media.

Panthers 2022 training camp preview: Full schedule, top storylines to watch

With two days until the first Panthers players report to training camp, here are the most important players and storylines to keep an eye out for.

The Carolina Panthers haven’t struggled to make headlines this offseason.

It all started with the team’s all-out pursuit of Deshaun Watson, which yielded nothing more for Carolina than broken dignity and further uncertainty around the leader of the offense. But since then, general manager Scott Fitterer has created a real competition under center and revamped the offensive line tasked with protecting whoever wins it. Paired with some notable acquisitions on defense and an underrated signing on special teams, the Panthers look like a different team entering the 2022 season.

Now, with two days until the squad reports to training camp, these are the players and storylines to keep an eye out for as the blurrier parts of Carolina’s depth chart begin to come into focus.

Panthers 2021 training camp: Notes from Tuesday’s practice

Here are a few notes from the team and the reporters on-site.

The Carolina Panthers just finished up another training camp practice in Spartanburg, the last before they travel to Indianapolis for a couple of joint practices with the Colts ahead of their preseason opener on Sunday.

Here are a few notes from the team and the reporters on-site.

No pads

Today’s practice was on the lighter side, closer to a walk-through that you’d expect on a Friday during the regular season. Players were wearing shorts and shells but no pads.

Two offensive linemen upgraded

Starting center Matt Paradis (back) and left tackle Cameron Erving (shoulder) were spotted wearing green jerseys. That indicates they’re progressing and getting close to full participation.

The team’s star right tackle Taylor Moton once again took reps on the blindside in Erving’s absence.

Jeremy Chinn flashes ball skills again

Second-year safety Jeremy Chinn has been busy breaking up passes and picking them off throughout camp. Today, Chinn flashed those ball skills again by intercepting a Sam Darnold pass intended for tight end Dan Arnold.

More options at punt returner

We probably won’t see either one of them fielding punts during the season, but the Panthers do have a couple capable backup options in running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver D.J. Moore, who took punt returner reps with recevers David Moore and C.J. Saunders.

The Panthers have tomorrow off then practice with the Colts on Thursday and Friday.

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Panthers 2021 training camp: 4 takeaways from Monday’s practice

Darnold and Will Grier were the first on the scene at today’s practice.

The Carolina Panthers are less than a week away from their first preseason game of the year. That means training camp has taken on a more meaningful tone and players are ratcheting up their intensity.

Here are a few takeaways from the reporters who were present at Wofford College today.

Panthers 2021 training camp: 5 takeaways from Sunday’s practice

Here are a few takeaways from the media at today’s practice.

The Carolina Panthers got yesterday off after a late Fan Fest celebration in Charlotte on Friday night. Today, the team resumed training camp on the practice fields at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.

Here are a few takeaways from the media at today’s practice.

 

J.T. Ibe apologizes for dangerous hit on Panthers WR Keith Kirkwood: ‘I’m so sorry’

It’s too late to save his job, but Ibe has apologized.

There aren’t a lot of sports where your career and entire life can change in an instant. Tackle football is one of them, and the Panthers got a jarring reminder of that at training camp today.

Safety J.T. Ibe has been released for his hit on wide receiver Keith Kirkwood at practice. Ibe hit Kirkwood high while he was attempting to make a catch in mid-air. Kirkwood went down hard and stayed there for a while. Eventually, he was taken off the field in an ambulance. It’s too late to save his job, but Ibe has apologized, per the Charlotte Observer.

“I just saw the ball and him and I wanted to interrupt it. It wasn’t me aiming for his head. It was just me trying to jar the ball out. . . I just felt bad, I looked at him when I landed, and I just felt bad. I asked the trainers to tell him I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hit him like that. It wasn’t intentional at all and I’m praying he’s OK.”

Ibe’s actions and subsequent release have been the story of the day. Sam Darnold appeared taken off-guard by the news in his post-practice press conference. Meanwhile, while Panthers legend Charles Johnson seems to think cutting him was sudden and harsh.

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Panthers legend Charles Johnson confused by J.T. Ibe’s sudden release

Former Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson seems to think that releasing Ibe right away was a bit harsh.

The Carolina Panthers royally screwed up their first padded practice of training camp. Thanks to a couple injuries and one very poor decision, they effectively lost three players.

Undrafted rookie running back Darius Clark was carted off late in practice, while wide receiver Keith Kirkwood left in an ambulance after getting cracked by safety J.T. Ibe. For his efforts Ibe was immediately ejected from practice and cut from the team, as well as their website.

The sudden release of Ibe certainly sent a message. Coach Matt Rhule is clearly past tolerating the “over-aggressiveness” that’s taken place in at least two of the last three sessions. Not everyone agrees it was the right call, though. Former Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson seems to think that releasing Ibe right away was a bit harsh.

Johnson has a fair point about learning from your mistakes. However, he also came up in a different era of football and what Ibe did was just plain unacceptable, as Rhule said.

While there’s been some exciting growth exhibited on defense, overall this team has appeared somewhat sloppy and undisciplined these last few days. Perhaps they cound benefit from bringing in an experienced backup QB like Josh McCown.

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Panthers sign linebacker Jonathan Celestin after training camp tryout

The Carolina Panthers are signing linebacker Jonathan Celestin after trying him out following today’s training camp practice.

The Carolina Panthers are signing linebacker Jonathan Celestin after trying him out following today’s training camp practice.

Celestin might be a familiar name to some Carolina fans. He participated in the 2019 offseason program (way back in the before time) with the Panthers. However, he suffered an injury over the summer and was waived before the season began. He received an injury settlement.

Celestin (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) played his college ball at Minnesota, where they’ve produced a lot of pro linebackers in recent years. In 30 games with the Gophers, he posted 217 tackles, including 19.5 for a loss. Celestin also totaled 3.5 sacks, seven passes defensed and three forced fumbles. After college, he went undrafted in 2018 and was signed by his hometown Falcons. He’s also put in time with the Chargers and Jets.

To earn a spot on Carolina’s roster this year, he’ll have to beat out the likes of Clay Johnston and Paddy Fisher.

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Matt Rhule calls out Panthers offense: ‘Today was not good enough’

Afterwards, coach Matt Rhule called out his offense, saying today’s practice was not good enough.

The Panthers just completed another training camp practice. Today’s session was defined by sloppiness, mostly on offense. Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker both threw interceptions, more than one player fumbled, there were several false starts up front and multiple players wound up running laps.

Afterwards, coach Matt Rhule called out his offense, saying today’s practice was not good enough.

There’s not a ton of time to get things right, here. Carolina plays its first preseason game of the year a week from Sunday.

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Panthers 2021 training camp: 8 notes from Saturday night practice

Here are eight observations from the practice.

From the draft to around-the-clock NFL Network coverage, the football season is already a year-round phenomenon. This year the league expanded on that, initiating Back Together Saturday, 13 hours worth of live training camp footage covering every team and broadcasted nationwide.

The Panthers’ part took place last night at Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina and we had a chance to watch some of the team’s stars work through drills in person. Here are eight observations from the practice.

Panthers fans showed out

After dismal attendance at the first few training camp practices, Carolina fans showed up in huge numbers for the Saturday night event.

Jaycee Horn is a press coverage monster

The No. 8 overall pick lined up at the line of scrimmage on multiple plays last night and disrupted plenty of routes. He had a notable PBU on Marken Michel, which drew a big reaction from the crowd. Donte Jackson also had a couple of notable PBUs against Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall.

Multiple options at kick returner

The Panthers had three players primarily fielding kickoff returns Saturday: rookie running back Chuba Hubbard, wide receiver David Moore, and RB/WR Trenton Cannon. While Moore and Cannon saw most of the reps, all three fielded every kickoff without a muff.

Sam Darnold digs the middle of the field

The overwhelming majority of Darnold’s success in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills came in quick 10-yard passes over the middle, where he hit D.J. Moore, Terrace Marshall and Christian McCaffrey for first-down dimes on multiple plays. 2020 training camp star Omar Bayless also made a slightly deeper catch over the middle.

Robby Anderson made the play of the night

Perhaps the most-spectacular moment of last night’s practice, Robby Anderson made a spectacular one-handed grab over safety Sean Chandler on a perfect pass from Will Grier.

Chuba Hubbard is an explosive runner

Even though players were not supposed to tackle last night, Hubbard showed amazing burst speed in team drills. Alongside his explosiveness out of the backfield, Hubbard also showed promise as a kick returner.

Coach Matt Rhule unhappy with overaggressiveness

Not even halfway through practice, coach Matt Rhule had to call the players in for a huddle and looked heated. In his post-practice press conference we learned that Rhule was upset about the over-aggressiveness, including some unsanctioned tackling.

Shaq Thompson left practice early

Later in practice, Shaq Thompson walked off the field with a trainer, which Rhule later clarified was just to deal with some tightness in his lower body. Still, Thompson didn’t return to the field and Denzel Perryman wound up taking over at his position and getting extra reps.

Bonus: Some players worked overtime

Tommy Tremble dropped a pass during team drills, so it was nice to see him working at least 30 minutes after practice with a trainer. Taylor Moton and Trent Scott took advantage of the new league rules and stayed behind with their families on the field. Wide receiver C.J. Saunders and cornerback Keith Taylor also stayed late working on some drills.

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