The list of guys sitting out with muscle injuries increased from Tuesday to Wednesday. DEs Charles Johnson and Frank Alexander remained out with tweaked groins while RB Fozzy Whittaker and TE Ed Dickson joined them on the sideline with the same problem.”It seems to be the predominant injury right now – the nagging groins or the tweaked hammies,” coach Ron Rivera said.WR Kelvin Benjamin, who injured his right hamstring a week after returning from an issue with the left, didn’t practice Wednesday and said he’ll miss Thursday as well. But Rivera is hopeful that nearly everyone can be on the field for the final day of minicamp, which will be a lighter “get them in, get them out” practice.

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The Panthers practiced kickoff returns in front of the media for the first time this spring. RB Jordan Todman, who was Jacksonville’s returner last year, was first in line with QB Joe Webb as the upman. Todman was followed by WRs Ted Ginn and Damiere Byrd.

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When asked if any players have surprised him the last few weeks, Rivera gave three names: WR Stephen Hill (“Seems to be ascending very quickly”), OT Jonathan Martin (“Gives us good versatility and depth”) and DT Micanor Regis.

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Wednesday’s practice was much more lively than Tuesday’s, and it became apparent early that emotions could boil over in the 90-plus degree temperatures. G Amini Silatolu and LB Jason Trusnik got in a brief scuffle before LT Michael Oher and DE Kony Ealy engaged in a more heated tussle during the backend of practice.

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PLAYER NOTES

• WR Brenton Bersin: Made a handful of grabs, including the play of the day – a leaping snag in the back of the end zone of a 25-yard bullet from QB Cam Newton during a 2-min drill.

• WR Stephen Hill: During a 2-minute drill, he was covered well by CB Carrington Byndom on a back-shoulder throw from QB Derek Anderson. But on the very next play, Hill ran the same route and grabbed a perfect pass from Anderson.

• WR Corey Brown: Not a great practice for a guy who’s looked good all month. Had a ball knocked out of his hands by SS Roman Harper, and later, after he got a step on CB Melvin White and FS Tre Boston, couldn’t corral a deep ball from Newton.

• WR Damiere Byrd: The undrafted rookie “flashed” again, according to Rivera. He turned on his speed on an end around, and Rivera said he’ll get a chance to show what he can do with kickoff and punt returns in the preseason.

• WR Kelvin Benjamin: While he didn’t practice, he wasn’t the only No. 13 walking around. He was followed by a shadow in the form of 7-year-old Matthew McCaskill for much of the day. A Make-A-Wish kid from Ft. Bragg, McCaskill’s wish was to attend a Panthers practice. So there he was Wednesday, wearing a No. 13 jersey hanging out with his favorite player. “It means a lot for a kid to come here and say you’re his favorite player,” Benjamin said. “Me being from a small town in Florida, that means a lot to change somebody’s life like that. I had a great time out here with him. He’s a great kid.”

• OL Tyronne Green: Tore his Achilles while acting as a blocker during a drill in Tuesday’s practice. The fifth-year pro, who was signed in late December, will have surgery and go on injured reserve. “We’ll miss his versatility in training camp,” Rivera said.

• G Ricky Henry: Added to the roster before Wednesday’s practice. He’s spent time with the Bears, Saints and Chiefs since coming into the league in 2011.

• C Ronald Patrick: The undrafted free agent was released.

• LB Shaq Thompson: After seeing a few snaps alongside Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis during 9-on-9s on Tuesday, the first-round pick lined up with the starters during the opening moments of Wednesday’s 11-on-11s. A.J. Klein eventually replaced Thompson in the first team, but it will be interesting to see how long that will continue once training camp begins.

• DB Colin Jones: His interception of Newton last week was one of the signature plays of OTAs, and he nearly had two more picks Wednesday. Jones couldn’t hang on to either pass, the first tossed by Anderson, and the second, a screen from Newton.

• CB Garry Peters: Walked onto the field with a helmet for the first time in at least a month, but he didn’t do much once out there. The undrafted free agent is struggling to return from a bad hamstring pull.

• CB Teddy Williams: Returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out about a week.

• S Dean Marlowe: Had a nice pass breakup on a ball intended for Bersin in the corner of the end zone.