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NFL / News And Views: Carolina Panthers Participate In NFL Mandatory Minicamp Before Starting Summer Break

News And Views: Carolina Panthers Participate In NFL Mandatory Minicamp Before Starting Summer Break

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Following the final whistle, Ikem Ekwonu, Robert Hunt and Ja’Tyre Carter lined up and sprinted off the Carolina Panthers’ practice field Thursday, marking the end of the NFL mandatory minicamp and the start of summer vacation. 

Or is it? 

Considering the franchise has posted six consecutive double-digit losing campaigns, Panthers coach Dave Canales lobbied for the players to continue their offseason program schedule. 

“We have a very fit team right now,” Canales told reporters Thursday. “We’ve got to keep it that way. So that was my biggest message, is readiness for camp.” 

Translation: Take time to see family and friends, but remain a professional by working out for four days and scheduling three-day weekends. Training camp is slated to start in late July. 

“The biggest thing that they have to realize is your vacation was after the season. You had three months off,” Canales said, referring to the Panthers missing the playoffs for a seventh straight season. 

“We’re in a ramp now to training camp, so with these five weeks you have a week of kind of reloading. Then you’ve got to kick back up your training and build off of our strength and fitness. 

“You can’t count on camp to get you in shape.” 

Defensive lineman Derrick Brown is heeding the advice. After missing 16 of 17 games last season with an injured knee, the 2023 Pro Bowler said Thursday he will remain in Charlotte for the final phases of his rehabilitation.

News And Views

News: The Panthers opened the three-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and media waited for the signal to enter the practice field construction zone. 

Views: Release the hounds. 

News: Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen said he would not have returned for a third season if quarterback Bryce Young had not rebounded the way he did after his Week 3 benching. 

Views: The Panthers are all-in on Young, who threw at least one touchdown during the final 10 games last season, the franchise’s longest streak since Cam Newton in 2018.  

News: The Panthers created just 17 turnovers last season, continuing a recent trend. Over their past 68 games, the defense has amassed just 61 takeaways.  

Views: Canales has stressed the importance of defenders faithfully attempting to punch out the ball from an opponent’s possession. Watch the x (Twitter) post below as undrafted free agent safety Isaac Gifford (25) completes a drill. 

News: The Panthers created five fewer turnovers on defense than the offense committed in 2024.  

Views: Canales announced a new math formula for balancing the equation in ‘25. 

News: The Michigan Wolverines have manhandled the Ohio State Buckeyes in their past four matchups. But despite losing to the Wolverines last November, the Buckeyes rallied and cruised to a national championship, one season after the “Team Up North” claimed the title.  

Views: Some Buckeyes fans believe it’s better to win “The Game.” Ransom made his natty views clear.    

News: Paced by Chuba Hubbard’s 1,195 yards, the No. 18-ranked Panthers rushed for 110.5  yards per game last season. 

Views: Entering Year 2 as a play caller with virtually an identical offensive cast, Canales will seek to utilize the improved offensive line and unleash Hubbard and free-agent signee Rico Dowdle and control the clock. 

News: The tight end room was a bit disappointing last season. Rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders led the position group with 33 catches, but he only scored one touchdown.  

Views: With Sanders back and sixth-round draft pick Mitchell Evans expected to add athleticism, Young could benefit from a strong running game by countering with a series of quick-hitting attempts. 

News: Coming off a record-setting 2023 campaign with 103 combined tackles, Brown suffered a season-ending injury during Week 1 last season. 

Views: Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who maintained his job after the defense yielded a record 534 points last season, is bracing for Brown to come back this season.

News: Showing his personal side, Canales attempted to communicate something to every player leaving the final mandatory minicamp practice Thursday.

Views: Whether or not he was ready for the job at the start of last season, Canales continues to demonstrate the personality and work ethic needed to succeed as a modern-day NFL coach … 

News: With the Panthers’ offseason program wrapping up Thursday, NFL players like Ekwonu, Hunt and Carter 

Views: Heads up. That’s 954 combined pounds racing to get out of Dodge. 

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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