CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young attempted to hit Xavier Legette in the corner of the practice-field end zone Friday, but cornerback Jaycee Horn stopped in front of the second-year wide receiver and jumped to high-point an interception during seven-on-seven team drills.
On the Panthers’ quarterback’s second pass, he overthrew rookie Tetairoa McMillan. On his third attempt, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders ran free on a crossing route, but dropped the well-placed pass.
Coach Dave Canales called the Panthers’ opening to Friday’s training camp practice as a “slow start.” On Thursday, he said the players “enjoyed a player day off, and you kind of come out and the guys are kind of easing their way into practice.”
Canales credited Young and running back Chuba Hubbard for speaking up, sparking the top three offensive units.
Referring to the players’ on-field message, Canales said: “We can’t afford to come out and feel our way through this thing. We have to be ready to go when that first horn blows for two hours we’re working and to have those habits.”
Friday marked the fourth practice with pads, gearing up for Saturday’s Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium.
Is Young finding his voice?
“I think he could sense just not enough urgency, so we went through that first rack, came back out and took 10 or 15 seconds to kind of tell the guys, let’s go, it’s time to go,” Canales said. ”So, I love that.”
#Panthers QB Bryce Young takes time to speak with Kay Adams of “Up & Adams” following Friday’s #NFL training camp practice … pic.twitter.com/RHgeD94H5P
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 1, 2025
Panthers To Play Starters In Opening 2 Exhibition Games
In his first season, Canales referred to his preseason practice of holding out a majority of the starters during the opening two games as “experimenting with an approach.”
Year 2 opens with a twist.
As revealed on “Up & Adams” on Friday, Canales confirmed most of the Panthers’ first-teamers will dress for at least one series during the first two outings.
After practice, Canales expanded on the team’s adjusted philosophy. The Panthers open the preseason against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8 at Bank of America Stadium.
“We have a mix of veteran players, but it’s predominantly a pretty young team,” he said. “And I just can’t pass up the opportunities,” he said. “The reps in games are valuable. We have three opportunities to do that in this preseason, and I just really want to take advantage of that.
“Plus, it’s a bunch of new guys playing together on defense and a couple of new guys on the offensive side. We have a little more continuity there, but I just love the thought of them going through that plan, having a first-15 type of thought process, and taking advantage of the preparation.”
#Panthers defensive backs working with the tackling sled during Friday’s #NFL training camp practice … pic.twitter.com/qyTrOCw5q0
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 1, 2025
Dave Canales Gives NFL New Tech Thumbs Up
Count Canales as one who favors the NFL’s new technology, at least the near-instant digital down-and-distance data.
The NFL introduced its new virtual measurement system during Thursday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
“I think it can be very valuable,” Canales said. “For me, as a head coach, there are those ‘are those (plays) a first down or not’ type of situations that come up.
“Getting that information quickly does help the flow of game.”
Introducing the new virtual measurement system for first downs, which allows the NFL to accurately and efficiently measure the distance between the spotted ball and the line to gain. pic.twitter.com/QvlsSmWnSo
— NFL (@NFL) August 1, 2025
