CHARLOTTE — The smallest group that the Carolina Panthers will practice with all year took the field on Tuesday. Following the league-mandated roster cutdowns, and a day ahead of signing a practice squad, the club practiced with their initial 53-man roster, joined by a handful of injury designated players as spectators. Before practice, the Panthers said goodbye to 37 guys, a process that is part of the business, but one that is never easy.
"I don't think there's really anything you could do to get used to it, make it any less impactful," quarterback Bryce Young admitted Tuesday afternoon. "It's a tough, tough business. I pray for everyone who, you know, a lot of people's futures are up in the air. There's a lot of uncertainty with people and that's just, that's just a tough—people have families, people have wives, kids, loved ones who depend on them and, again, it's a tough part of the business."
Following the cuts though, the Panthers quickly got back to football, taking the field for what was scheduled to be a shorter practice but ended up going long. The Panthers have a week-and-a-half until they open their season versus the New Orleans Saints, but Young said this week was essentially a "bonus week,"
All of those on the initial roster were present and accounted for, although defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (ankle) and tight end Tommy Tremble were held out of drills.
— One new face that joined the Panthers on Tuesday was corner Mike Jackson. The veteran defensive back was acquired via trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. Due to the quick turnaround and no practice, Jackson did not play on Saturday in the final preseason game at Buffalo. As such, Tuesday was his first action with his new team. The former fifth-round pick has started 21 career games (including all 17 in 2022 for the Seahawks) and has an interception and two fumble recoveries.
The roster is still destined to both change with waiver claims, and grow with the practice squad (due to be initially set on Wednesday).
As such, these practices could look different yet again before the week is out. Still, with the regular season kicking off for Carolina on Sept. 8, each new change now has a ripple affect, touching the game plan as well. It means coaches have their work cut out for them to get each possible player ready, but the same could be said for Young.
While the quarterback points out he has nothing to do with any waiver claims—"that's above my pay grade," he joked—he could be asked to help bring along pass-catchers, something Dave Canales left the door open to on Monday.
"From my perspective, if it's, again, if it's a position that I'm around, it's my job as well to make sure that I'm having conversations, we're going over things, having talks. If it means going over extra things and watching film or talking through plays or the game plan. It's my job as well, just as much to make sure that, for the team's sake, we are as acclimated as can be, we're on the same page.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get us to the best position we can, come next week."
— The human element of cutdown day is saying goodbye, at least for now, to those who had become friends. One such face was receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.. Heading into his fourth season, TMJ was left off the initial 53-man roster, a cut that Young admitted, "That's my guy. That one hurt."
The former second-round pick has been with the club for the past three seasons. He will be eligible for the practice squad if he clears waivers. If he does end up in a new city though, Young has a message to send along with the signing.
"The business of it, you never know where people end up, what's going on," he said. "But, that's someone I believe in tremendously. Someone that will be in addition to any room, who I know—again, you never know what's going on—but have the utmost confidence to have success in the future."
— There are always a few moments each practice, when corner Jaycee Horn likes to remind everyone he could probably play any position on the field he wanted to, and Tuesday was no exception. Horn spent part of the stretch period catching balls one handed, just to test his different angles. Then, when the defensive backs were practicing run stop, Horn was more than happy to act as the ball carrier, juking his teammates in the open field, and playing loosey goosey with the ball while never risking a fumble, just to get around a would-be tackle.
Check out the best photos from Panthers practice on Tuesday.
