CHARLOTTE — No matter how eager players might be to get to training camp, eventually they get tired of looking at each other and practicing against their own teammates.
That won't be a problem for the Panthers this summer, as they'll have a pair of joint practices with other teams as part of their training camp schedule.
The Panthers will head to Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind. for two days of joint practices with the Colts on Aug. 12 and 13, and will host the Ravens for two days of work on Aug. 18 and 19 at Wofford College in Spartanburg. The times of the practices are to be determined.
Both sets of practices come before preseason games — the Panthers play at Indianapolis on Aug. 15 and host the Ravens at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 21.
The joint workouts also create an opportunity for a different kind of practice than you get when you're working against players on your own roster.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said he liked the idea of working against other teams during the preseason, because it gives them something resembling live reps to prepare, without the concern of quarterbacks getting hit. With a new quarterback in Sam Darnold learning a new system with new teammates, that kind of time will be valuable.
There's also the simple enthusiasm created from seeing new faces, and breaking up the routine of camp.
The Panthers will report to Wofford College on July 27.
Check out select photos of new quarterback Sam Darnold at the production day shoot.
