HEALTH WATCH

 

• TE Greg Olsen was back on the field for the first time since he suffered back spasms after practice on Aug. 14. Olsen, who worked on the side with trainers, could play against the Patriots on Friday.

 

"If he's ready to go, he will," coach Ron Rivera said. "We've just got to make sure everything's OK. If he can get through these next couple days of practice, he'll get an opportunity to get out on the football field."

 

• WR Brenton Bersin practiced in full for the first time since he suffered a cracked rib in the preseason opener at Baltimore.

 

"It took about a week for the pain to go down," Bersin said. "I probably could've played Saturday, but they held me out and hopefully I'll be ready to go this week."

 

• DT Kyle Love, who was in the concussion protocol after taking a hard hit last Monday, returned to practice.

 

• OL Chris Scott was limited in his return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out for more than a week.

 

• S Dean Marlowe, who hasn't practiced since Aug. 8, ramped up his work on the side. According to Rivera, Marlowe could be back on the field Tuesday.

 

• S Trenton Robinson (shoulder) and WR LaRon Byrd (concussion), who were each injured against the Titans, were not at practice.

 

• RB Jonathan Stewart (vet day), DE Rakim Cox (back), CB Teddy Williams (groin), TE Ed Dickson (groin), DE Larry Webster (hamstring), S Travell Dixon (chest) and LB Ben Jacobs (ankle) all worked on the side.

 

TOP PLAY

 

On the final play of practice, CB Lou Young dove to knock away a pass from QB Cam Newton that was intended for WR Devin Funchess in the back corner of the end zone.

Young, who was beaten for a touchdown on a slant by WR Kelvin Benjamin in red zone drills, bounced back with at least three pass breakups. Before the one that ended practice, he had another against Funchess and one versus Bersin.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

• LB Shaq Thompson intercepted a Newton pass that was tipped by S Tre Boston.

 

• LB Jeremy Cash is continuing to work in with the second team. Cash was seemingly buried on the depth chart until he began a quick climb the past couple weeks.

 

• CB Robert McClain had a solid practice, intercepting QB Joe Webb before knocking away a Newton pass in the seam that was intended for WR Damiere Byrd.

 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

 

The now-retired Charles Tillman is in town playing coach for a couple days. Tillman, who forced 44 fumbles in his 13 seasons, spent the early part of practice showing Carolina's young DBs how to pull off his "Peanut Punch." Then, Tillman stayed late to share techniques for shedding blockers.

"Obviously he's one of the better corners to ever play this game," CB Zack Sanchez said. "Peanut's known for getting the ball out -- I've known that since probably back in middle school. So it's kind of cool to come and learn from a guy who I think is the best ever to do it."

Added CB James Bradberry:

"I've tried to strip the ball (in college), but it really hasn't worked out for me. So I'm going to try to implement the ‘Peanut Punch' into my game, ... It's pretty much just punching while you're going to tackle. That's pretty much it. It sounds simple, but you've got to time it up real well. That's why he's so good at it."

 

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The Panthers have been called for 17 penalties totaling 145 yards in their first two preseason games.

"That’s probably one of the bigger disappointments," Rivera said. "Three offsides and two illegal procedures, now that’s way too much. It comes to focusing and concentrating and making sure that you pay attention to things."