CHARLOTTE – It was offensive tackle Daryl Williams' turn to answer the question posed to every second-year player: How different does it feel this time around?

"It feels a lot easier compared to last year," said Williams, a former fourth-round pick from Oklahoma. "Last year I didn't really know that much – just a rookie running around with my head cut off. But I know everything better, so it just feels way easier."

"I don't necessarily feel like a veteran," he added, "I just try to practice like one."

Williams' rookie season started with an unfortunate injury in the season opener. He suffered a sprained knee against the Jaguars while blocking on the field goal unit and missed the next five games.

Once he returned, Williams became a contributor as the extra lineman in the "jumbo" package. All told, he played in 10 games and all three postseason contests.

"Overall, I think I did well other than getting hurt in the first half (of the season)," Williams said. "Wish that wouldn't have happened. But other than that, I think I did pretty good."

All five of Carolina's starting offensive linemen from 2015 are back for 2016. It's a group that developed cohesiveness that served them well, but Williams will continue to push those ahead of him.

"Come out here and practice all out; compete and do my job," Williams said of his approach. "Let everything else take care of itself."

Said Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner: "I definitely expect (Daryl) to come out and compete. It doesn't matter, anybody out here is going to compete like they're a starter. He's a big, strong guy. As long as he keeps using that to his advantage, he'll be good to go."