3 receptions on 3 targets, 31 yards, 15-yard touchdown; 1 special teams tackle
All things being equal, CB Bené Benwikere is arguably the biggest riser coming out of Tennessee. But he’s guaranteed a roster spot. Norwood isn’t.
It appeared Norwood’s chance to grab one of the final receiver slots was all but finished when he took a big hit from Titans DB Marqueston Huff midway through the third quarter. But less than two minutes later, Norwood not only returned to the game. He was also back in the end zone for the first time since his senior season at Alabama.
“That’s toughness and that’s what you’re looking for,” coach Ron Rivera said. “You need a young guy that’s looking for an opportunity. When you go out and make plays like that, that’s great and then you take a big shot and come back to make a big play. That’s a big thing for us.”
4 tackles; 1 special teams tackle
After totaling 3 tackles in 20 snaps during his pro debut in Baltimore, Cash was even more productive in Nashville. The former All-America safety looked like a fish out of water in OTAs, but three months and 16 added pounds later, Cash is beginning to show potential the Panthers saw.
“Back during the spring it was hard because of the position change, trying to put on weight and then going out there to try and make plays,” Cash said. “But I’ve been able to calm the waters down, be able to process things and go out there, have fun and make plays.”
Added Rivera:
“Jeremy Cash is really starting to come into his own as a rookie. I mean, he’s got a ways to go, but he’s one of those guys that seems to be around the ball, very active around the football. That’s what we’re looking for.”
1 carry, 3 yards; 1 reception, 6-yard touchdown
The Charlotte native and South Carolina State product flashed at times in Spartanburg. For example, this moment against a certain Pro Bowl LB:
“So many guys have stood out, but the key is standing out during game time. He’ll have to get a few more opportunities for us to really gauge him.”
Simmons only saw five snaps against the Titans, but he made the most of his first, grabbing a short scoring toss from QB Joe Webb. Simmons did, though, make a rookie mistake.
“I wish I would’ve kept the ball. Everybody teased me about that,” he said. “It’s out there on the field somewhere. I just dropped it, so I don’t know where it’s at.”
For what it’s worth, he felt like many of you.
“I was very unimpressed with the way I played,” Worley told BBR.
Titans QB Marcus Mariota picked on the rookie, targeting receivers he was covering on six of 10 attempts. All six were completed.
Both Worley and Rivera chalked it up to a learning experience, and considering it’s just one preseason game in a guy’s rookie year, there’s nothing to get all that worked up about just yet.
It’s not that he did much wrong. It’s just that he’s struggling to get open.
In 29 snaps this preseason, Hill has two receptions for 18 yards, including one for a 4-yard gain on Saturday.
Not only is Hill missing the speed he once had, but he appears to be laboring when he runs. The Panthers expected as much from someone coming off such a devastating injury.
Hill deserves a ton of credit for making it back as far as he has in just a year, and he’s been a great rehab buddy alongside Kelvin Benjamin, but it’s clear Hill’s chances of making the 53-man roster are very slim.
First, Travell Dixon left with a chest injury after making a tackle on the Panthers’ first kickoff. Then, Trenton Robinson suffered what sounds like a season-ending injury after trying to make an arm tackle on Kasey Redfern’s first punt.
With Dean Marlowe still out with a sore hamstring, that left only Kurt Coleman, Tre Boston, Colin Jones and Marcus Ball to play the rest of the way. When Ball tweaked his right knee early in the fourth, in came Worley for his pro debut at safety.
Ball returned just two plays later, but if Marlowe doesn’t return soon, this could be a spot the Panthers have to address just to get through the preseason.