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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Anthony Rizzuti

Panthers training camp tracker: Observations and takeaways from Day 2

After a thrilling start to training camp on Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers returned to the field at Wofford College for their second practice this morning.

Here are the top takeaways and observations from the session:

Offense has a second-half lull

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Despite a solid start, the Panthers offense stalled during the second half of practice. Quarterback Bryce Young threw his first interception of the summer while also taking a sack and fumbling a handoff to running back Miles Sanders.

Head coach Frank Reich said the following about the performance:

“We’re gonna make mistakes. I thought today, the first half of the practice—this is without watching the tape—felt crisp and sharp on both sides of the ball. On all three phases, really. Special teams as well. And then about halfway through practice, at least on offense—where my eyes were a little bit more—just felt like a little bit of a lull. A few too many turnovers and mistakes. But you learn from those and you gotta bounce back.”

Shaq Thompson is impressed by Frank Reich's coaching staff

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Thompson, who’s entering his ninth season in Carolina, spoke on how well he believes Reich and his staff have handled practices:

“I ain’t gonna talk about the other staff—but this staff, man, they just know how to take care of players a little bit. You see our practices—we come out here, get our work in and we get off the field. Tryin’ to beat the heat, come in, work. We gonna start doin’ situational stuff—he’s bringing in that because it’s all about situational football. Things happen. Two-minutes happen, four-minutes happen.

“So it just brings a lot of knowledge into us and makin’ sure everybody knows what they’re doin’ handlin’ situations. Nobody folds under pressure. And that’s what they’re doin’ out here for us.”

Kamu Grugier-Hill shines again

BOB MONTGOMERY/Spartanburg Herald-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Grugier-Hill made his second interception in as many days. Thompson also had some praise for his fellow linebacker:

“Kamu’s one of those guys that’s just like a silent killer. They brought him in for special teams, but I definitely think he’s gonna be one of those guys—they gotta put him on the field somehow, some way. He’s been making plays, he’s fast, he’s smart, he’s a veteran. I feel like you gotta find a way to get everybody on the field, and you definitely gotta find a way to get him on the field.”

DJ Chark also shines again

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

If Grugier-Hill has been the star on defense, Chark has been the one on offense. The sixth-year wide receiver reeled in another deep ball on Thursday, and credited his early playmaking to the connection with his rookie quarterback:

“Those plays, sometimes it’s audible. That’s what the play is. But if I know there’s a chance to attack, we’re probably gonna attack. I know that’s his mentality.”

Ikem Ekwonu is feeling more confident at second camp

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

What’s the biggest difference for Ekwonu in Spartanburg in Year No. 2? The rising left tackle says it’s all about his feel for the pros:

“I think just confidence overall. Obviously, last year as a rookie, there’s a lot of things I didn’t know, I don’t know—technique-wise, practice-wise, everything like that. So, kinda havin’ a good feel about how to practice, good feel about my technique, just more confident overall as a player.”

Notable observations

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