Rookie outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen left the Carolina Panthers’ final preseason game in the first half due to a shoulder injury. Umanmielen, who was selected in the third round of this year’s draft, expressed disappointment about not being able to play longer.
“I was thinking that with me starting this game, I was going to actually be able to unleash and show out a little bit,” Umanmielen said. “So I was a little frustrated I wasn’t able to finish it.”
He explained that he sustained the injury while blocking Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington during an interception return by safety Lathan Ransom.
“I’m doing pretty good, a little nicked up, but I should be right,” he said, as he pulled a sweatshirt on without much of a wince. “On the interception that Lathan had, I had turned around, seen Darnell Washington, ducked my shoulder into him, tried to block his big a–, and on the impact is where it happened.”
Umanmielen added that X-rays showed no major damage: “and everything was intact,” he said. Head coach Dave Canales commented on Umanmielen’s status following the game.
“We’re going to basically monitor that, tonight, monitor it tomorrow, just kind of see how it presents,” Canales said. “Right now, still sore enough, couldn’t get the strength back tonight to get him back out there.
“So you know this is a guy that’s going to be with us, so we just wanted to be smart about that.”
The team continues to deal with injuries at outside linebacker. Fellow rookie Nic Scourton remains inactive after suffering a collapsed lung earlier in Houston.
Canales also provided updates on other players dealing with injuries. Left guard Damien Lewis has been recovering from a shoulder issue since participating in joint practices with Cleveland before the first preseason contest. Canales indicated optimism about Lewis returning for the regular season opener against Jacksonville in two weeks.
“Damien’s kind of like day to day,” Canales said. “He’s making huge strides, we’re getting the strength back where we want it to be.
“I feel really confident Damien will be with us for the first game, but again, we have to get him back out there, expose him to more physical play and get him back to football to be able to make that decision.”
Wide receiver Brycen Tremayne did not play due to what Canales described as general body soreness following recent practices.
“Felt good about the work that we saw him have in the first two weeks,” Canales said. “And then bounced back this week for really just kind of a grinder practice two days ago, and we shut him down in the middle of that practice. We just didn’t feel good about being able to turn him back around that quickly to get him out there in the game.”
Tremayne is competing for a roster spot and has contributed on special teams.
“He’s got a good chance,” Canales said when asked about Tremayne making the roster. “And for Brycen to really show what he can do offensively and then on special teams as well, he really made a statement for himself on this team. So something that we weigh heavily, and so, just excited to have the conversation to see how that all plays out.”
