Appearing in the ‘Up’ category for the second straight week, the undrafted rookie went to the locker room late in the third quarter after helping make this tackle on former Panthers’ RB Tyler Gaffney:
But Cash’s postgame tweet implied he avoided protocol after he was evaluated for a concussion:
Just wanted to thank everyone for their concern. I’m just fine and looking forward to getting back after it next week! #KeepPounding #BDH
— Jeremy Cash (@jaycash_16) August 27, 2016
What’s important to note is when Cash was on the field before leaving. Not only was he in the second group of LBs with A.J. Klein and David Mayo, but Cash was also on the first unit for punts and both return teams.
Check out No. 57 on this Patriots’ punt just before the half:
Ben Jacobs, who suffered an ankle injury at Fan Fest, made his preseason debut with the third teamers. If the Panthers keep just six linebackers, Jacobs may be Wally Pipped by Cash.
In a case of a box score not telling a complete story, Artis-Payne is listed as gaining just 28 yards on nine carries with a 12-yard reception. Not listed: At least three broken tackles and a 9-yard run that was brought back by a holding call.
The second-year pro’s pass protection could still use work, but he was a rare spark for a first team offense that had few.
The forgotten man of the TE group scored the Panthers’ only touchdowns a week after leading the team in receiving yards at Tennessee.
Lucas, who first came to Carolina as a 220-pound receiver two years ago, is now up to 250. But like Artis-Payne, Lucas’ blocking is “a work in progress.”
“I’ve been getting better at it every week, every day,” he said Friday night. “I definitely had a couple good blocks and some good chips. It’s something to move forward with and I am excited about the future.”
This includes Lucas, who’s not necessarily the young guy the Panthers hoped to groom for life after Greg Olsen.
Beau Sandland and Braxton Deaver each flashed at times as pass catchers in the spring and at training camp, but Carolina’s offense asks TEs to do more than “run around and catch the ball.”
Sandland, who’s struggled as a blocker, finally saw his first target of the preseason on Friday but dropped the ball.
Deaver, who had a 15-yard reception against the Titans, played three snaps on special teams and never checked in on offense.
So much for the positive momentum he took out of last week’s game. Norwood followed up his touchdown in Tennessee with a clunker in Carolina.
In what may have been his final shot to make an argument for one of the last WR spots, Norwood’s first target ended up in the hands of Patriots’ S Duron Harmon. Norwood never turned his head around for the ball from QB Derek Anderson. It may have been miscommunication or a bad throw, but Norwood then missed a tackle after the interception.
Then, late in the third, Anderson threw a perfect deep ball that hit Norwood’s outstretched hands and fell to the ground.
Coaches were impressed with the undrafted rookie’s preseason debut against the Ravens, but he’s since faded.
When starter Trai Turner left in the third quarter with a stinger, Tyler Larsen was the first G off the bench. Rigsbee, who lined up with the second team in Tennessee, didn’t play one snap against New England. So unless he’s hampered by an injury we don’t know about, it appears he’s fallen out of favor quickly.