CHARLOTTE — When Caleb Farley came in to work out with the Panthers recently, they threw him a T-shirt to wear. It had a number on it, the kind of thing that no one really chooses, the equipment guys or the recipient. It's kind of like the next shirt in the clean pile.

For Farley, it had plenty of meaning. That blue 31 they offered held special meaning for him since his father, Robert Farley, wore No. 31 when he played for Maiden High School's 1971 state championship football team.

"Just little things like that, not to make it too big, but it's kind of like a pleasant delight in your heart," Farley said Thursday. "And I just enjoyed it and I know my uncles, my cousins enjoy being able to see me get 31 and things like that.

"So all of that, I take it in, and I enjoy every moment of it. You know, everything else is it's time to work. You feel me? I just want to come in here and work and earn the respect of everybody in here."

Farley's father died last year in a home explosion on Lake Norman, but his memory is never far away. He wears a medallion with an image of his parents from a picture of his high school senior night, with his image Photoshopped out so they're together. He didn't want to dwell on that tragedy, but it's part of his context now as he tries to re-start his NFL career.

He won't be on the game field yet; he was signed to the practice squad this week. But for the former Titans first-round pick, who played in just 12 games in three years in Tennessee because of injuries, this is a chance to re-start his career. And being close to home offers the chance for something special.

He grew up in Maiden and lives in Hickory, so there's plenty of family nearby. He joked that it's a bigger deal in "the biggest little football town in the world" than it is to him because his priority is on earning a job here.

"I try not to put too much pressure on myself because I know how this business is," he said. "Everything is earned; nothing is ever given. That's why I want to work hard, earn people's, you know, respect and trust, but they just want to see me prosper, see me succeed, and wouldn't nothing be better than being able to do it right here in a Panther uniform.

"If I didn't feel confident in my abilities and feel like I should be here competing, I feel like that's disrespectful to the game of football and the NFL. You shouldn't be in this locker room. So, if you don't think that you can get the job done with flying colors, I don't think you should; you should even come in here. So, I'm confident, and I'm ready to compete."

Back and knee problems plagued him through his college years at Virginia Tech and with the Titans, but he said he feels good now, and coaches are curious to see what he has to offer in a situation where they have cycled through a lot of options at the position.

"I had a lot of love for him as a player coming out," defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said. "He has the great physical ability, the ability to move, run, change direction, great ball skills, you know, he was a wide receiver, I believe when he first went to college and then transitioned to secondary.

"But yeah, he's a very, very talented player, and there's a reason that he was drafted in the first round. And I still have a lot of belief in that player. Obviously, the injuries have held him back. But I'm excited to work with him, and we'll see how that goes."

Offensive line playing at a high level

The Panthers have made some significant strides as an offensive line this year, and that began with the investment in free agency when they laid out $150 million worth of contracts on guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.

So, for run game coordinator Harold Goodwin, that helped set the tone for the group, which he believes should set the tone for the entire team. With those two coming in, Austin Corbett moving into the center, and playing a style that fits tackles Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton; they have a group that's earning high marks for pass protection and running well.

"Everything we know as far as football, I feel like the offensive line is the foundation of the team," Goodwin said. "So I thank Mr. (David) Tepper, I thank Dan (Morgan, the general manager), for spending that money to get Rob and D-Lew; they've been a big help. And Austin's done a great job playing in the middle, and Ickey's getting better, and T-Mo is doing a great job as an old vet over there on the right side of the offensive line.

"But the biggest thing for us is we're just trying to coach these guys up the best we can. I said at my last press conference with you guys that I believe we've got guys that have a high chance to be Pro Bowl players if they play at a high level right now. I think guys are trying to strive to be that, and they're showing up on tape."

Shaq Thompson's coach feels his pain.

If anyone knows what linebacker Shaq Thompson is going through right now, it's his position coach — Pete Hansen.

Hansen suffered a torn Achilles this offseason during OTAs, and the former college football and basketball player spent much of the spring coaching from a scooter.

"I was talking with Shaq and said, hey, I didn't realize this was contagious, so I apologized," Hansen joked Thursday. "He was in a lighter mood there."

Hansen's back on his own two feet now, but he has to remind himself that the recovery is a long one.

"I'm slowly getting better," he said. "I noticed there's progress. But no, it's a slow, slow process. So it's frustrating, but it's also I remind myself to see the progress."