HEALTH WATCH

 

• TE Greg Olsen, who was limited Tuesday, practiced in full for the first time since he suffered back spasms in Spartanburg.

When asked if Olsen may play Friday night against the Patriots, coach Ron Rivera said:

"If he’s ready to go, yes, absolutely. We’re not going to throw a guy out there who, tomorrow morning he’s stiff and wobbling around, no we don’t want to put him out there."

 

• TE Ed Dickson practiced for the first time since he injured his groin two weeks ago.

 

• WR Philly Brown did not practice. He took a shot to his surgically repaired left shoulder during Tuesday's 7-on-7s.

 

• S Dean Marlowe (hamstring) and S Marcus Ball (undisclosed) didn't practice and S Trenton Robinson underwent surgery for a torn pec muscle. With the Panthers down to four healthy safeties (Kurt Coleman, Tre Boston, Colin Jones, Travell Dixon), WR Miles Shuler spent some time as a scout team safety.

 

• CB Teddy Williams, who tweaked his groin last week, returned to a limited practice.

 

• OL Chris Scott was also limited. He's been battling a sore shoulder.

 

• DE Rakim Cox (back) and WR LaRon Byrd (concussion) remained out.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

• WR Keyarris Garrett "had a big day."

 

• Olsen ended a team drill with a 1-handed catch in the corner of the end zone.

 

• TE Marcus Lucas has the best nickname on the team. So when he caught a touchdown pass from QB Joe Webb against LB David Mayo, someone on offense yelled, "Yeah, Mucas!" while another screamed, "I see you, Muke!"

 

• LB Shaq Thompson added another interception to his growing preseason total. This time, Thompson was blitzing when he grabbed a Webb pass out of midair.

 

• DE Charles Johnson was pulled off the field early in practice to attend a personal matter. "Not a bad thing," Rivera assured.

 

• DE Kony Ealy was late to practice because he was dealing with a personal matter. Since trainers were already out on the field, Ealy, who still needed to be taped up, walked in wearing sandals while carrying his helmet and cleats. During practice, Ealy again jumped offside.

 

• CB Daryl Worley intercepted a pass from QB Derek Anderson that was intended for TE Braxton Deaver.

NOTABLE NUGGETS

 

You haven't heard much on contract negotiations between the Panthers and DT Kawann Short because there hasn't been much negotiating.

An impasse became clear as soon as Short's side made it known they're looking for a Fletcher Cox-like $17 million a year contract. According to a league source, general manager Dave Gettleman began talks unwilling to go much higher than $15 million per season.

The scenario has been similar to former CB Josh Norman's last summer. Short will make a bit over $1-million in the final year of his rookie deal, and the two sides will pick things back up again after the season.

"Somewhere along the line, they'll figure it out. I believe they will," Rivera said. "He's too important a player for us, and KK likes where he is. We'll see where it all unfolds."

Like they did with Norman, the Panthers could use the franchise tag on Short. Unlike Norman, the whole thing probably won't suddenly blow up leading to Short's departure next spring.