Monday’s Notes and Nuggets From Panthers’ Training Camp

Health Watch

 

  • FB Devon Johnson missed his fourth straight day with a back issue.

"He's progressing very nicely," coach Ron Rivera said of the undrafted rookie. "He's going to see the doctor down in Charlotte either this afternoon or tomorrow and hopefully we'll have some good news once he sees the doctor."

 

  • CB Bené Benwikere still isn't ready to come off the PUP list.

"The biggest thing for him is he'll go really, really hard and the next day there will be some soreness," Rivera said. "That's the thing you worry about - you don't want to come out here and practice and all of a sudden he's out for three or four more days or a week."

 

  • DE Kony Ealy is "bouncing back pretty well" during his current stage of the concussion protocol, according to Rivera. Ealy was expected to meet with an independent doctor Monday or Tuesday.

 

  • Vets who had Monday off: WR Ted Ginn Jr., S Kurt Coleman, LB Thomas Davis, C Ryan Kalil, TE Greg Olsen.

 

Play of the Day

 

It appeared WR Devin Funchess was about to haul in a deep bomb from QB Cam Newton until CB Zack Sanchez knocked the ball away with his left hand. The PBU was one of a handful of nice plays by the secondary.

 

Player Notes

 

  • RB Fozzy Whittaker led the line of kickoff returners. He was followed by Damiere Byrd and Joe Webb.

 

  • RB Cameron Artis-Payne bounced out of a clogged hole in the middle of the line and cut left for a big gain.

"That boy went to Auburn!", Newton exclaimed.

 

  • WR Philly Brown found a hole in a confused secondary for a long gain from Newton during 7-on-7s:

  • WR Kevin Norwood caught a dart from Newton for a touchdown on the offense's six play of a red zone drill:

  • TE Beau Sandland wasn't in bounds, and QB Joe Webb would have been sacked, but Sandland gave a fantastic effort to grab this ball over S Trenton Robinson:

 

 

  • LT Michael Oher tossed DE Mario Addison to the ground during 1-on-1s:

  • DE Wes Horton saw most of the first-team snaps in place of Ealy.

 

  • CB Daryl Worley collected his second interception of camp when he grabbed an underthrown ball by Newton to TE Scott Simonson.

 

  • CB Lou Young knocked away passes to LaRon Byrd and Keyarris Garrett, respectively, on consecutive plays.

 

  • DB Colin Jones saw the bulk of first-team snaps at nickel.

 

Random Nuggets

 

  • Funchess, who was unable to connect with Newton a number of times, was noticeably upset at himself through the second half of practice.

    "He has had a very good camp, [but] he was frustrated," Rivera said. "He's becoming such a good, young pro and he's understanding what it takes to be successful. When he's not doing things right, he really gets on himself, so I'm glad to see that maturation that he's going through."

 

  • The players have their first day off from camp Tuesday.

"I don't remember when we've had five practices in a row before a day off," receiver Brenton Bersin said, "so it's good to get that block over with."

 

  • Coach Braylon Beam, who's currently in full remission after battling a brain tumor, stopped by: