Panthers training camp observations: Rhule gives 2 players morning off, DBs look better
The first day of contact practice with pads feels like a holiday for football — the NFL season is near.
That was the vibe at Panthers’ training camp Monday, after months of uncertainty on whether the NFL would even be in this position by August because of COVID-19. Monday was also the second day media members were allowed to view practice.
Due to team and league-wide media restrictions, all local media outlets are unable to report on positions certain players are practicing at, whether a player is with the first-team or second-team and other scheme-related information. But each day, we’ll provide as much insight into practice as possible.
Here are some observations from practice:
Not at today’s practice
“Late” to practice would be the better term, but for good reason. Matt Rhule said running back Mike Davis and defensive tackle Kawann Short were both missing from the first portion of the indoor period because he gave both players the morning off so they could take their kids to school.
“I think being a father is the most important thing that I am, and our players are,” Rhule said, adding that he planned to take his children to the bus stop Thursday. “I gave every coach, staff member and player ... Even if it’s virtual, they should have breakfast with them and help them get on the computer. They should drive them to school, whatever.
“A lot of time people say they believe in stuff they don’t really do it.”
Davis and Short were back a few minutes after practice began. They both participated in 11-on-11 drills.
Moves
The Panthers claimed former Dallas Cowboy defensive end Jalen Jelks off waivers Monday. Jelks, a 2019 seventh-round pick, spent his rookie season on the injured reserve. Jelks, who is 6-5, 256 pounds, played at Oregon and was first-team All-Pac-12 in 2018.
The Panthers won’t make any corresponding moves until Jelks clears COVID-19 protocols, which includes having three negative tests before entering the facility.
Injuries
WR Keith Kirkwood (shoulder) is out several weeks, TE Temarrick Hemingway (head) is day-to-day.
Top play
In 11-on-11 drills, cornerback Donte Jackson made a nice play covering D.J. Moore. Teddy Bridgewater’s pass to Moore was slightly off target, but Jackson was all over Moore. After the play, the exuberant Jackson made sure to let the offense know about it. During the indoor portion, coaches were complimentary of Jackson.
Highlights
▪ The defensive backs were much better than they were Sunday, with safety Tre Boston and Jackson both making a couple of nice plays.
▪ In the practice bubble, Rhule specifically watched the defensive line with the practice dummy bags. At one point, he got in on the drill and showed them how to do it.
“I was just having a little fun with them,” Rhule said, adding that he didn’t realize he had cameras on him. He said he had former players texting him about the moment.
“At least I didn’t get hurt,” Rhule said. “That’s the positive thing.”
Lowlights
▪ Panthers rookie punter Joseph Charlton had a rough outing at camp Monday. One of his first punts traveled about 30 yards and curved wide left over a fence surrounding the practice field. The Panthers signed Charlton last month, after finding out that Michael Palardi tore his ACL and would miss the rest of the season. Charlton is the only punter in camp.
Other notes
▪ Defensive back T.J. Green is making a positive impression on Rhule. Green hasn’t started in the NFL since 2017; he injured his hamstring in 2018 when he played for the Colts.
“He’s got all the talent in the world and his process has been really good,” Rhule said.
▪ Panthers left tackle Russell Okung was at practice Monday. He participated in team and position drills, but left early again. Rhule said Sunday that Okung will leave practice early with the trainer over the next few weeks to work in the pool. Okung has been dealing with tightness in his back.
▪ In June, defensive coordinator Phil Snow said rookie safety Jeremy Chinn would play multiple positions this season, including at linebacker. Chinn, who is 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, looks the part among other linebackers.
“He reminds me of Shaq, when Shaq came in here,” Tre Boston said, making the comparison to Shaq Thompson.
Thompson, Boston said, was a person he recognized looked like an NFL pro when he arrived, and he sees the same in Chinn.
▪ Wide receiver Brandon Zylstra made a nice catch in a goal-line drill to score, and then pitched the ball to Mike Horton, an undrafted rookie free agent from Auburn. Horton reared back and executed a spike Rob Gronkowski would have been proud of. The ball bounced up so hard it hit a teammate in the helmet.
▪ In one-on-one drills, wide receiver Robby Anderson beat Troy Pride Jr. easily on a corner route for a touchdown.
▪ Bridgewater was generally sharp in goal-line drills, but he also lost one fumble rolling left and went down to the ground in an unsuccessful effort to cover it.
▪ Eli Apple had a nice breakup on a goal-line pass play, then wagged his finger back and forth as if to say, “Oh no you don’t.”
▪ Davis made a nice catch in goal-line drills off a pass that P.J. Walker threw just behind him and scored on the play. Davis then executed a fearsome spike.
▪ Omar Bayless made one of the best catches of the day, leaping high to grab a ball in the end zone from quarterback Will Grier over cornerback Natrell Jamerson.
▪ Monday’s practice was much warmer than Sunday’s. Though it wasn’t as hot as the Spartanburg heat, temperatures were in the 80s.
▪ Rhule likes how his two backup quarterbacks, Walker and Will Grier, are performing in practice. The two are splitting reps, and Rhule said the two are preparing as if they will be starters.
Tuesday’s schedule
Panthers practice Tuesday is scheduled to begin at 8:45 a.m.
Staff reporters Alaina Getzenberg and Scott Fowler contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Panthers training camp observations: Rhule gives 2 players morning off, DBs look better."
