The Panthers were back on the practice field Friday morning — a day after nearly a third of NFL teams canceled football activities as players grappled with their emotions in the wake of another police shooting of an unarmed Black man.
Panthers players, who had a previously scheduled day off from practice Thursday, have had several conversations this week about outlets to express their feelings. They decided to try to come up with something that would have a deep impact in terms of social justice.
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“We can not practice. We can tweet. We can protest. We can do all these things. But we need to take action. I feel like those are the conversations that need to be had, not about whether we’re gonna practice or tweet this or protest,” veteran defensive lineman Zach Kerr said.
“We need to take action. And it doesn’t start with guys in the NFL or guys that are in the entertainment business. I want people to understand this is a human issue,” continued Kerr, who believes everyone needs to be a part of the movement to affect change, from politicians to everyday citizens.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said it’s been a “crazy week,” adding that he often gets “lost” in the NFL bubble and has to do a better job as a citizen “being more aware of what’s going in the world.”
As for the football Friday, there was a lot to take in. So on to the …
New, notes and analysis
• It was a good day for the defense, which had three interceptions and several other pass breakups during team drills. Backup linebacker Andre Smith got the pick parade started, then ran the length of the field — past where another 11-vs.-11 session was taking place at the other end of the field — and capped the play by falling backward into the end zone. Tre Boston — like Smith, an ex-Tar Heel — wasn’t even in the drill, but ran helmetless alongside Smith to celebrate the INT.
• Speaking of Boston, the free safety had a rude welcome back for wideout Seth Roberts in his return from the concussion protocol. After Roberts caught a short pass during situational work, Boston ran up and knocked him to the ground, then raised his fist skyward to signal a fourth down. Perhaps inspired, defensive back Natrell Jamerson later slung receiver Tommylee Lewis to the ground after a completion.
• The Panthers got their money’s worth Friday from Kaare Vedvik, whom they claimed off waivers from Buffalo last week for the league minimum $610,000 this year. While Joey Slye got the day off, Vedvik was 6-for-6 on field goals, with a couple from long range. General manager Marty Hurney watched Vedvik closely during the special teams period. The former Marshall standout also handled the punting duties, rather than Joe Charlton, and later took snaps from J.J. Jansen as a holder on the side. Panthers coach Matt Rhule said he likes the competition that Vedvik has brought, but added that the team would not try to keep all three kickers on the active roster.
• While Bridgewater and Will Grier are fairly traditional pocket passers, P.J. Walker has more improvisational skills, which are fun to watch. Early in Friday’s practice when the pocket broke down, Walker ran to his right and looked like he was going to keep for a scramble. Instead, he flipped the ball to Christian McCaffrey, who had a running lane along the sideline. Earlier in the same drills, Walker hit DJ Moore for a touchdown between two defenders.
• Kenny Robinson has been overshadowed for most of camp by Jeremy Chinn, the team’s other rookie safety. But Robinson, the fifth-round pick from West Virginia (and the XFL), was in on several plays Friday. During 7-on-7 work, Robinson helped rookie corner Troy Pride Jr. in coverage on Marken Michel. Pride tipped Grier’s pass, and Robinson came down with it for the INT. A few minutes later, Robinson got his hand on another pass — this one from Walker — to knock the ball away from Ishmael Hyman.
• Robinson and Pride were both active in the secondary, but so was Donte Jackson. The Panthers’ top returning corner had the defense’s third pick when linebacker Adarius Taylor deflected a pass from Walker, who was trying to hit Moore on a short crosser. Jackson, arguably the team’s fastest player, took off running for the end zone.
• The Panthers had a bit of a scare when first-round pick Derrick Brown suddenly dropped to the ground during one-on-one pass-rush drills. It was unclear whether Brown lost his footing, but the No. 7 overall pick appeared to be OK. Rhule said Brown’s ankle was bothering him a bit, but “nothing major.”
• Bridgewater spent time after Wednesday night’s practice throwing to tight end Chris Manhertz well after the rest of the team had cleared the stadium. Bridgewater wants to try to get Manhertz, who played basketball at Canisius, to quit thinking of himself as a blocking tight end. “I just told him, ‘Man, pretend you’re on a basketball court.’ Once I found out that he was a basketball player, my eyes just lit up. Because when you’re a basketball player, you think about a guy who will go up and rebound,” Bridgewater said. “I just told Chris I just want to try to continue to add a little more to his game.”
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• Linebacker Shaq Thompson continues to be slowed by a groin issue, which Rhule said remains sore. Thompson sat out Friday, as did cornerback Eli Apple (hamstring), defensive end Marquis Haynes (concussion protocol) and offensive lineman Tyler Larsen (calf).
• The Panthers are scheduled to scrimmage in Bank of America Stadium on Saturday morning in what Rhule equated to a third preseason game. Rhule said veteran players — many of whom had light days Friday — would be heavily involved.
(Photo of Teddy Bridgewater: Jim Dedmon / USA Today)
Joe Person is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Carolina Panthers. He has covered the team since 2010, previously for the Charlotte Observer. A native of Williamsport, Pa., Joe is a graduate of William & Mary, known for producing presidents and NFL head coaches. Follow Joseph on Twitter @josephperson
