The 7 things we've learned about the Carolina Panthers in training camp

New York Times

a day ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dave Canales can make a rainbow out of even the gloomiest of days. So no one should have been surprised when the Carolina Panthers' second-year coach popped into the media room at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night with a smile on his face.
'That was a lot of fun right there,' Canales said following the team's FanFest. 'Just great energy. So much love for the fans that came out.'
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Because of the fieldhouse construction at the practice fields, Saturday marked the only opportunity for fans to see the Panthers in person during training camp — this summer and next. A good-sized crowd — more than 45,500 tickets were distributed — watched the rain stop just before the team took the field for the scrimmage-like practice.
What they saw was mostly a microcosm of the first two weeks of camp — a steady performance by Bryce Young, some good and bad from rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and physical play by a defense that was the NFL's worst in 2024.
As the Panthers prepare to welcome the Cleveland Browns for a joint practice and preseason game this week, a look at seven things we've learned through the first two weeks.
During training camp last year, Young was learning his second offense and working with his third play caller since the Panthers drafted him No. 1 in the spring of 2023. It didn't help that his only reps in a preseason game came on the opening drive at Buffalo during the third exhibition. When Young looked listless and ineffective during a pair of blowout losses to begin the season, Canales benched him in favor of Andy Dalton.
Fast forward to this summer, when Young has demonstrated a command of and comfort level in Canales' system. That's not to say he's been on-point every practice: Nickel Chau Smith-Wade baited him into an end-zone interception last week. But Canales likes the way Young is running the offense, hitting most of his throws and making off-platform throws — his signature at Alabama and over the second half of last season.
'He's extending plays when he has to,' Canales said. 'But he was on time and on the money (Saturday), so I'm excited about where he's at.'
Canales plans to play Young and his starters in the first two preseason games this year, which should have the former Alabama QB more prepared for when the games count.
The sense here has been that undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald is the favorite to win the kicking job, and you wondered how long the Panthers would keep two kickers on the roster. But after Fitzgerald went only 1-of-3 on field goals during FanFest, it's reasonable to think Canales will keep the competition open through at least the first preseason game or two.
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Fitzgerald hit from 42 yards, before twice missing from 48 yards. He was wide right, then clanged the ball off the left upright at the end of night. 'He missed a couple, so we're just learning more about the guys that we have,' Canales said.
Fitzgerald and Matthew Wright have had similar results kicking on the narrow goal posts at practice. Fitzgerald, the former Florida State standout, looks to have a stronger leg than Wright. But Saturday wasn't great.
Princely Umanmielen, the third-round pick from Ole Miss, created a stir during the first practice by beating left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and inadvertently making contact with Young, causing him to fumble. Umanmielen got by Ekwonu on an inside move the following day, causing some consternation among fans on social media — which Umanmielen tried to shoot down by defending Ekwonu.
It's also worth mentioning that those plays came during shorts-and-helmets sessions, when defensive linemen typically have the upper hand. During Saturday's full-pads practice, Ekwonu did a nice job locking his arms out against Umanmielen and protecting Young's blind side. Still, you have to think Umanmielen — with his length, bend and explosive first step — is going to make an impact as a rookie.
The Panthers' GM and scouting staff hit on a couple of UDFAs last year in safety Demani Richardson and wideout Jalen Coker, the latter of whom caught 32 passes in 2024 and gained Young's trust with his sure hands and body control.
Anyone who attended FanFest got a long look at undrafted cornerback Corey Thornton, who saw a bunch of first-team work with Jaycee Horn getting the night off. The Panthers love the 6-1 Thornton's length and physicality, which was on display Saturday with his press-man coverage against McMillan, the first-round pick from Arizona. Thornton played four seasons at UCF before transferring to Louisville last year. He's impressed coaches with how he goes about his business.
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'He earned those reps in the spring by being where he's supposed to be (and) being clued into our calls. And then by making plays on the ball,' Canales said. 'He keeps showing up long and heavy at the ball.'
Thornton said he's enjoyed his one-on-ones against McMillan, who has struggled early against press coverage. 'It's been a great matchup. He's a great competitor,' Thornton said. 'We're getting each other better.'
Morgan, the former Panthers linebacker, famously said during his introductory news conference that the roster needed more dawgs to compete. Safeties Tre'von Moehrig and Lathan Ransom fit the description.
The Panthers' safeties weren't particularly good at tackling last season. But Moehrig and Ransom don't mind lowering their shoulders into teammates — sometimes when coaches would prefer they don't. That was the case Saturday when Ransom, a fourth-round pick from Ohio State, came in high to hit receiver T.J. Luther in the end zone on an incompletion.
That prompted a tackling lesson from Canales. 'I love the physical play. (But) that's gotta be a left shoulder hit,' he said. 'You try to get your right shoulder across, your head will be involved. You will be getting mail from the league office. It's an educational process.'
Canales doesn't want to coach the aggression out of his players, but they also have to be smart. Xavier Woods racked up a number of personal foul penalties last year on illegal hits. Back to Ransom: The rookie could have walloped wideout David Moore in the second half Saturday, but instead put himself in a good (and legal) tackling position. Lesson learned.
Jimmy 2x pic.twitter.com/gZ4Dljcqfj
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 3, 2025
Young has more playmakers around him this year. That means even on nights like Saturday, when McMillan never got untracked, there are other guys to step up in the passing game. Xavier Legette caught a short throw from Young and took off through the middle of the defense for a 40-yard touchdown. Jimmy Horn, the sixth-round pick from Colorado, pulled down a pair of TD passes from Andy Dalton.
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What the 5-8, 174-pound Horn lacks in size, he makes up for with sudden quickness and by not quitting on routes. That meshes well with Young's knack for extending plays.
'He continues to find space and play fast. It's a credit to his fitness,' Canales said. 'But it's also a credit to the energy that he puts out there, that you want to throw to him.'
Throw in Adam Thielen, Hunter Renfrow, Coker and a leaner, faster Ja'Tavion Sanders at tight end, and there should be opportunities for Young to make plays down the field.
Rookie running back Trevor Etienne made a nice cut Saturday to get to the second level, where a defender knocked the ball loose (it appeared to be after the play had been whistled dead). Etienne, a fourth-round pick and the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, is expected to displace Raheem Blackshear as a returner and No. 3 back.
Bam Martin-Scott, an undrafted rookie from South Carolina, made a shoestring catch to intercept Jack Plummer late in FanFest. Martin-Scott seems like a lock to make the roster as a depth linebacker and special teams regular.
Former Stanford WR Brycen Tremayne has made the most of his reps. The 6-4, 212-pounder spent the last two years on Washington's practice squad, and should get opportunities in the preseason games.
(Top photo of Jalen Coker: Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)