Notebook: Receivers trending in the right direction

Jun 27, 2023

CHARLOTTE — The Panthers kept seven wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster for some injury cover.

As soon as they did, it looked like they might not need that much depth.

The three wideouts who missed the final preseason game because of injuries were all back on the field in some capacity Tuesday.

It was a short and unpadded practice, but Terrace Marshall Jr. (back) was working quite a bit. Laviska Shenault Jr. (concussion protocol) was there in a red jersey and participating in the non-contact practice. DJ Chark Jr. (hamstring) spent most of the session inside the Atrium Health Dome working with the rehab group, but he walked out to the field with his helmet, which stood as progress.

"I know these guys are doing everything they can," Panthers head coach Frank Reich said.

They were all in a good mood, but none of them were smiling wider than Marshall. He got off to a slow start to his career here because of some lingering foot problems and missed seven games in his first two seasons. But he said those past problems were just that, in the past.

"My mind just went straight positive, you know, that I'll be OK in the end," Marshall said. "Things I've had in the past, and I've overcome, so why not do it again?

"There were times in my past that I've got injured, and I felt down on myself, but I had to pick myself up and just give it all to God, you know, so that just gave me that peace of mind to know that, you know, everything is in his hands. And, so I just, when I got hurt, I just instantly prayed about it and moved on from it and just rehabbed, and now I'm back, back out there."

Marshall said his goal remained to be available for the Atlanta game on Sept. 10, and Chark echoed that sentiment.

"As long as we don't have any setbacks or anything like that," Chark said with a nod when asked if he was targeting the opener. "But I also want to be smart, to play the long game. So right now, I'm on track; I'm doing pretty well. So long as you continue to progress that way, I don't see why not."

Frank Reich speaks to the media https://t.co/FKqWNopUYP

– During Tuesday's press conference, a reporter asked Reich about how the media hadn't gotten a good read on the defense through the preseason since the Panthers rested multiple starters. Reich gave a clever quip in reply.

"Good," he said to laughs from reporters. "Mission accomplished."

Reich went on to detail how players such as Brian Burns, Justin Houston, and Derrick Brown, who weren't featured in the preseason, should make their impact known starting Sept. 10.

"We'd like to think it's going to add a lot (to have them play)," Reich said. "Derrick Brown hasn't played. Justin Houston hasn't played. There's a lot of production right there. We think those guys will make a big impact."

– Reich said new receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette got a glowing review from Adam Thielen, who played with him at Minnesota in 2021.

"(I) was able to call Adam and say, 'Adam, tell me about this guy,'" Reich said. "So (I) got inside information from another player. That always is helpful. …

"Good route runner, good hands, smart, be able to play at all three positions. You guys will see – very good personality. Apparently he's got a pretty exuberant personality, which is good. We like that energy. He has good energy."

– Tuesday's practice was one of the stranger ones for those who have been watching throughout training camp, as the field once flooded with more than 90 players dwindled to 50-something on cut day.

The Panthers will be able to sign 16 more to their practice squad tomorrow, and Reich mentioned that many of those who were cut Tuesday will end up back there.

"A lot of the guys that were let go today are going to be back here on our practice squad; a lot of the guys that were let go today are going to end up starting games for us this year – a lot or however many," Reich said. "I mean, it's just going to happen every year in the NFL, because of injuries, it's a long season. And we're going to be excited about it.

"We look at it, like when we get our 53, plus the 16. I know there's that distinction. That pay's a little different and all that stuff. But as far as the coaches are concerned, this is our squad. The 53 and 16, it's all one squad. So that's why, really tomorrow, the work will be done."

Check out headshots and action photos of the Panthers' initial 53-man roster this season.

OLB - 0 - Brian Burns

OLB - 0 - Brian Burns

QB - 2 - Matt Corral

QB - 2 - Matt Corral

RB - 3 - Raheem Blackshear

RB - 3 - Raheem Blackshear

K - 4 - Eddy Piñeiro

K - 4 - Eddy Piñeiro

WR - 5 - Laviska Shenault Jr.

WR - 5 - Laviska Shenault Jr.

RB - 6 - Miles Sanders

RB - 6 - Miles Sanders

LB - 7 - Shaq Thompson

LB - 7- Shaq Thompson

CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn

CB - 8 - Jaycee Horn

QB - 9 - Bryce Young

QB - 9 - Bryce Young

P - 10 - Johnny Hekker

P - 10 - Johnny Hekker

QB - 14 - Andy Dalton

QB - 14 - Andy Dalton

WR - 15 - Jonathan Mingo

WR - 15 - Jonathan Mingo

WR - 17 - DJ Chark Jr.

WR - 17 - DJ Chark Jr.

WR - 19 - Adam Thielen

WR - 19 - Adam Thielen

S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn

S - 21 - Jeremy Chinn

S - 22 - Jammie Robinson

S - 22 - Jammie Robinson

CB - 23 - CJ Henderson

CB - 23 - CJ Henderson

S - 24 - Vonn Bell

S - 24 - Vonn Bell

S - 25 - Xavier Woods

S - 25 - Xavier Woods

CB - 26 - Donte Jackson

CB - 26 - Donte Jackson

RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard

RB - 30 - Chuba Hubbard

CB - 33 - Troy Hill

S - 42 - Sam Franklin Jr.

S - 42 - Sam Franklin Jr.

LS - 44 - JJ Jansen

LS - 44 - JJ Jansen

TE - 45 - Giovanni Ricci

TE - 45 - Giovanni Ricci

LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

LB - 49 - Frankie Luvu

OLB - 50 - Justin Houston

OLB - 50 - Justin Houston

OLB - 52 - DJ Johnson

OLB - 52 - DJ Johnson

LB - 54 - Kamu Grugier-Hill

LB - 54 - Kamu Grugier-Hill

C/G - 56 - Bradley Bozeman

C/G - 56 - Bradley Bozeman

LB - 57 - Chandler Wooten

LB - 57 - Chandler Wooten

T - 61 - Ricky Lee

T - 61 - Ricky Lee

G - 62 - Chandler Zavala

G - 62 - Chandler Zavala

G - 66 - Cade Mays

G - 66 - Cade Mays

G - 67 - Nash Jensen

G - 67 - Nash Jensen

DT - 67 - LaBryan Ray

DT - 67 - LaBryan Ray

G - 70 - Brady Christensen

G - 70 - Brady Christensen

T - 72 - Taylor Moton

T - 72 - Taylor Moton

DE - 76 - Nick Thurman

DE - 76 - Nick Thurman

T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu

T - 79 - Ikem Ekwonu

TE - 80 - Ian Thomas

TE - 80 - Ian Thomas

TE - 81 - Hayden Hurst

TE - 81 - Hayden Hurst

TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble

TE - 82 - Tommy Tremble

TE - 83 - Derek Wright

TE - 83 - Derek Wright

TE - 84 - Stephen Sullivan

TE - 84 - Stephen Sullivan

WR - 88 - Terrace Mashall Jr.

WR - 88 - Terrace Mashall Jr.

OLB - 90 - Amaré Barno

OLB - 90 - Amaré Barno

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown

DT - 95 - Derrick Brown

DT - 96 - DeShawn Williams

DT - 96 - DeShawn Williams

OLB - 97 - Yetur Gross-Matos

OLB - 97 - Yetur Gross-Matos

OLB - 98 - Marquis Haynes

OLB - 98 - Marquis Haynes

DT - 99 - Shy Tuttle

DT - 99 - Shy Tuttle

WR - Ihmir Smith-Marsette