Tag: Panthers training camp

Panthers 2020 training camp: Projecting 4 potential roster cuts on offense

Here are four players on offense who may be cut next.

The Carolina Panthers will allow the media in to watch practice today for the first time in 2020. As we move into the next phase of this training camp schedule, we should probably expect another round of roster cuts soon.

Here are four players on offense who may be cut next.

WR/KR DeAndrew White

DeAndrew White
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

What White did against the Steelers in August last year (four catches, 94 yards) is proof of how valuable the preseason can be for young players. This year, White won’t have that opportunity to put something good on tape. Saturday’s report that the team tried out former Saints receiver/returner Tommylee Lewis is also bad news for White, who is already near the bottom of a crowded depth chart at wide receiver and has a similar skill-set. Lewis also has the benefit of familiarity with Joe Brady from their time together in New Orleans. If Lewis signs, White could be waived in a corresponding move.

Update: Lewis has been signed and White has indeed been cut. The Panthers also added former Eagles wideout Marken Michel.

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Panthers DT Kawann Short: ‘It’s just a crazy year. 2020 is undefeated’

Panthers DT Kawann Short: ‘It’s just a crazy year. 2020 is undefeated.’

Four of the five team captains the Panthers had in 2019 are now gone. Luke Kuechly retired, while Cam Newton, Greg Olsen and Colin Jones were released. The only one remaining is defensive tackle Kawann Short, who sat out the final 14 games last season due to a shoulder injury.

Carolina’s captains turning over is just part of the tectonic shifts the team has experienced this year and that’s only if we’re talking about football. 2020 has presented unprecedented challenges for professional athletes and sports leagues. In a Zoom call with reporters on Sunday, Short said he considered opting-out this year due to the pandemic, but in the end decided to play. He also commented on how crazy 2020 has been, offering the quote of the offseason.

The good news is that the Panthers have not had a positive COVID-19 test as of yet.

Assuming that we have an NFL season, Short will be leading an almost totally remade defensive line unit. Mario Addison, Bruce Irvin, Dontari Poe, Kyle Love and Vernon Butler all left. Players like Brian Burns, Derrick Brown and Yetur Gross-Matos will have to step up in their absence.

Even if they do, all of that might be for nought if Short goes down again. Short’s shoulder injury was a huge reason why the team struggled in run defense so much last year. Schematic changes will help. However, they need Short healthy if there’s going to be any significant improvement there.

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Panthers 2020 training camp: No positive COVID-19 tests as of yet

The Carolina Panthers have not had any players test positive for COVID-19 as of yet, according to a report by the Charlotte Observer.ย 

The Carolina Panthers have not had any players test positive for COVID-19 as of yet, according to a report by the Charlotte Observer.

Players must test negative three times in four days before beginning the 2020 training camp program. Next up on the schedule, teams begin the acclimatization period, which runs from Aug. 3-11. During this time, workouts are limited to 60 minutes in the weight room and 60 minutes of on-field conditioning. Walk-through practices are permitted, as well.

While having no tests is a good sign right now, there’s no guarantee an infection won’t break out. Major League Baseball is offering an example of how quickly things can go wrong, with outbreaks on several teams causing enough postponements to put the 2020 season in jeopardy after only a handful of games.

By contrast, the NBA’s bubble model seems to be working well so far, but it’s too early to tell if their plan is good enough to keep transmission rates low enough for their abbreviated season and playoffs to finish up.

At the very least, the NFL should be preparing a contingency plan to finish the 2020 season in a bubble in case they suffer the same problems as baseball.

So far, the Panthers have only had one player opt-out of the season: undrafted linebacker Jordan Mack. Dozens of players across the league have chosen to do so in recent days though, including former Panthers Star Lotulelei and Devin Funchess.

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Watch: Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey returns to team facility

Christian McCaffrey is back. Watch the Carolina Panthers’ best player return to work at the team facility, clad in a mask and driving what appears to be some kind of Batmobile. pic.twitter.com/p68GdDiCnJ – Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 1, …

Christian McCaffrey is back. Watch the Carolina Panthers’ best player return to work at the team facility, clad in a mask and driving what appears to be some kind of Batmobile.

McCaffrey can afford one, as he signed a four-year, $64 million extension this offseason, making him the highest paid running back in NFL history.

Going into his fourth year in the league, McCaffrey has fully arrived as one of the sport’s elite athletes. McCaffrey’s peers voted him the sixth-best player in the NFL Top 100 list this year.

Panthers 2020 training camp: Ranking the 12 most important rookies on the roster

Panthers rookies: Ranking the 12 most important on the roster going into training camp.

The Carolina Panthers lost more experience than any NFL team this offseason by a wide margin. They’ll be returning just 46.9% of their snaps played from last season. This means Matt Rhule may have to rely on his team’s 2020 rookie class more than any other coach.

Let’s take a look at which players are most likely to make an impact in their first year in the league. Here are the 12 most important rookies on the team this year, beginning with four undrafted free agents who have the best chance to make the team.

12. RB Rodney Smith

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

While having no preseason games to prove himself certainly didn’t help, Smith has a couple of things working in his favor. First, the Panthers need to give Christian McCaffrey fewer touches this year in order to protect their $64 million investment, which means more playing time for every other running back. Second, Mike Davis is a good candidate to be cut in the next two weeks, as that would save the team $3 million in cap space. If Smith can impress at training camp, he should secure the fourth RB spot on the roster behind McCaffrey, Reggie Bonnafon and Jordan Scarlett.

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NFLPA memo explains how 2020 training camp will work

We will have NFL football this season. On Friday, the league and the players came to an agreement on a range of issues, including COVID-19 testing, opt-out clauses and salary cap issues. There is a lot to explain, but the biggest takeaway is that …

We will have NFL football this season. On Friday, the league and the players came to an agreement on a range of issues, including COVID-19 testing, opt-out clauses and salary cap issues.

There is a lot to explain, but the biggest takeaway is that training camp will start on time.

What comes next?

This NFLPA memo that was sent out today explains how camp will proceed this year with the new health and safety protocols, beginning with coronavirus tests three of the first four days.

Panthers won’t hold training camp at Wofford College this year

Instead, Carolina’s training camp will be held at the team’s official facilities in Charlotte.

The NFL has told teams they are not allowed to travel to alternate sites for their training camps this year due to the pandemic.

That means the Panthers will not be holding their camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC like usual. Instead, Carolina’s training camp will be held at the team’s facilities in Charlotte. Team spokesman Steven Drummond says they are looking forward to returning to Wofford in 2021, per Myles Simmons at the official team website.

“We are aware of the league’s decision regarding training camp and support its goal of ensuring the safety of fans, players, coaches and staff. . . We value our longstanding relationship with Wofford College and the Spartanburg area and look forward to returning in 2021.”

There are no dates, times or other details as of yet, but given the COVID-19 situation we can pretty much be certain that fans will not be allowed to attend camp.

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Report: Panthers will return to Wofford College for 2020 training camp

Camp has been held at Wofford since the Panthers’ inception in 1995.

For at least one more year, the Carolina Panthers will hold their training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, according to a report by Eric Boynton at the Herald-Journal.

The team will eventually move camp to their new facility in Rock Hill, SC, but it won’t be ready for two more years.

Joe Person at the Athletic reported yesterday that the organization is working on a new contract with Wofford to keep camp there until the Rock Hill construction is complete.

“The Panthersโ€™ contract with Wofford expired last year, and the two sides are working on a new agreement that would keep the team in Spartanburg until their Rock Hill facility is finished, according to sources.”

There is no word yet about 2021.

This is one area of the franchise that former owner Jerry Richardson’s influence is still being felt. He attended college at Wofford (class of 1959) and played wide receiver on their team before jumping to the NFL. Camp has been held at Wofford since the Panthers’ inception in 1995.

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