Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that he hoped most of the Panthers’ injured players would return for a lighter practice on the final day of minicamp. It didn’t turn out that way, and actually, the list of guys who weren’t practicing grew on Thursday.RB Fozzy Whittaker (groin), WR Kelvin Benjamin (hamstring), WR De’Andre Presley (undisclosed), TE Ed Dickson (groin), DE Charles Johnson (groin) and DE Frank Alexander (groin) remained out while WR Mike Brown (undisclosed) and TE Brandon Williams (groin) also didn’t participate.
PLAYER NOTES
QB Derek Anderson: After sprinting in for a score on the right side of the end zone, swooped down the sideline celebrating his underrated speed.WR Kelvin Benjamin: Can’t say for sure, but his body language on the sideline suggested frustration; spent the first part of practice with his jersey on backward; after Rivera talked with him for a few minutes, Benjamin fixed the jersey to face the right way.WR Stephen Hill: Couldn’t hang on to a pass from QB Cam Newton in the back of the end zone; new CB Chris Houston had good coverage, but it was a play Hill should have made.WR Jarrett Boykin: Had a rough day filled with drops, but held onto a touchdown late in practice.TE Jamie Childers: Was wide open in the back of the end zone when he dropped a pass from Newton in red zone drills; rebounded with a couple receptions, including a score from QB Joe Webb.C Ryan Kalil: Was mic’d up and followed by an NFL Network crew for a behind-the-scenes segment that will air this summer.
DE Kony Ealy: A day after his scuffle with LT Michael Oher, knocked down a pass at the line on the first play of team drills.LB Shaq Thompson: Again spent most of his time with the second team; on one play, the rookie was in the backfield so fast, Newton didn’t even attempt a handoff; Thompson only got in five practices this month, but Rivera was pleased with what he saw from his first-round pick: “(We) got to see his quickness and his playmaking ability. Probably the biggest thing you really saw is he plays very well with his eyes. He sees things very well, and he makes decision to go and he goes.”LB David Mayo: His knockdown of a pass at the line was the final play of minicamp.CB Charles Tillman: Batted away a pass in the end zone intended for WR Jerricho Cotchery.CB Teddy Williams: Snagged an interception in the end zone off after a pass bounced off the hands of RB Cameron Artis-Payne.