[vc_row no_margin=”true”][vc_column width=”1/1″]

Health Watch

Practiced

• WR Devin Funchess (hamstring) – On Monday said, “If I’m practicing, I’m going to play.” We’ll see if he does Thursday against the Steelers.
• DE Mario Addison (illness)
• DB Colin Jones (groin) – Surprise!

Did Not Practice

• WR Jerricho Cotchery (groin)
• TE Richie Brockel (shoulder)
• C Ryan Kalil (knee)
• C Brian Folkerts (ankle)
• DE Charles Johnson (trap/calf) – Even though he stayed inside for a second straight day, the Panthers still plan to play Johnson in Pittsburgh.
• DT Star Lotulelei (foot)
• CB Charles Tillman (concussion)

Notes

• Less than 24 hours after coach Ron Rivera described Jones’ groin injury as “much more than a tweak,” it was a big surprise when Jones walked into Tuesday’s practice with a helmet. The common but amusing joke from fans on Twitter wondered if Jones got into Russell Wilson’s Recovery Water. Apparently, though, the specialist he saw didn’t find what the Panthers had feared.

“Basically what the doctor said is that it’s not bad. He treated him and sent him on his way. Today he worked out and looked really good,” Rivera said. “Colin seemed to have a nice, big smile on his face.”

• General manager Dave Gettleman is checking off interview requests before he goes dark during the season. After breaking down the receiver situation with BBR on Monday, Gettleman met with a group of reporters Tuesday. When asked what’s pleased him most this preseason, Gettleman said:

“Michael Oher. He’s been solid. It’s a heck of an upgrade.”

• Because he’s only been at practice once the past few weeks, and he was back in his boot Friday, it’s tough to keep track of Star Lotulelei’s progress. But just like Rivera, Gettleman is confident the DT will be ready for the season opener:

“We’ve been told there’s a good chance. Nothing has changed.”

Quotes 

QB Cam Newton on drops by his WRs:

“Those are things I can’t worry about. It doesn’t affect me not one bit. I just want guys to come in and be ready to play.”

Rivera on LBs Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis:

“Luke’s got probably one of the best first steps I’ve ever seen … I think TD’s got tremendous athletic ability, probably the best athlete I’ve ever seen play the position.”[line][vc_raw_html]

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

[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]