Black and Blue Review
WEDNESDAY SIX-PACK
After he took receiver Kelvin Benjamin with the Panthers’ first pick in May’s draft, beaming general manager Dave Gettleman said, “You can’t teach 6-5, 240.”
Gettleman could probably repeat something similar about a guy who’s 6-4, 220, like Marcus Lucas, but the Missouri product is the much lesser-known tall rookie receiver on the roster.
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OBSERVATIONS
- The Panthers practiced in shells Wednesday, somewhat surprising considering they’ll likely have another light day Thursday ahead of the preseason opener.
- QB Cam Newton was held out of some team drills for the first time during camp. Head coach Ron Rivera assured it wasn’t because Newton had a setback with his surgically-repaired ankle. A safe assumption is QB Derek Anderson was getting work with the first-team because even if Newton plays in Friday’s preseason opener, it won’t be for very long.
- DE Charles Johnson missed his third straight practice with a hamstring injury. Rivera said Johnson won’t play Friday if he doesn’t practice Thursday. That doesn’t seem likely.
- DE Frank Alexander continues to play in place of Johnson. While he won’t be able to play the first quarter of the season, Alexander may have saved his job with a great camp.
- RB Kenjon Barner, who’s been mostly bothered by a sore left hamstring, returned to work for the first time since Thursday.
- RB Jonathan Stewart continues to rehab his hamstring on the side. Rivera said he expects Stewart to play in the preseason, but there’s no timetable.
- WR Tavarres King was back after missing two days with “sore legs.” He made yet another one-handed catch at the end of 7-on-7s.
- WR Kelvin Benjamin wasn’t targeted in team drills, which almost deserves a BREAKING NEWS label. He was pressed at the line a bit more near the end, having some success against CB Melvin White and mixed results with CB Josh Norman.
- WR Philly Brown replaced Benjamin as the star rookie Wednesday. While Brown dropped botched one of his punt returns, he made a number of receptions, including a couple with the ones. After one particularly impressive catch, someone screamed “Cheesesteak!” from the sideline.
- CB Bené Benwikere knocked away one of the few passes Brown didn’t catch.
- WR Marcus Lucas isn’t going away. After snagging a pass thrown behind him by Anderson during team drills, Lucas received an enthusiastic congratulations from Newton.
- T Nate Chandler was back after resting his knee Tuesday.
