North Charlotte Today

The Panthers concluded their spring minicamp on Wednesday, signaling the start of a break until training camp begins. Despite the lighter schedule ahead, Wednesday's practice was marked by high intensity and comprehensive drills.

"I think about the spring and just where we started from an operational standpoint," Canales reflected. "For us to be able to get into a full-speed two-minute drill; we had an end of half and then we had an end-of-game situation right there, getting the calls in and out, playing within the time clock. Love to see the execution a little bit better. We had a couple of drops, but the ball moved."

Canales also noted the defensive stops during these drills as beneficial for both him and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to strategize on using timeouts effectively. He praised the players' focus and adherence to coaching principles throughout the spring.

Players will now have nearly a month off to rest and recover. Canales emphasized that while they should take time off, there are still expectations regarding their fitness regimen.

"My expectation is for them to take a little bit of time off," Canales said. "They've earned that... I think it's really important that they do take that time earlier in the summer to be able to relax, to let their body recover."

Shaq Thompson has been working hard this offseason after recovering from a fibula injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season. The linebacker discussed his journey back to football shape and regaining confidence.

"The hardest thing probably to get back was to build that confidence," Thompson shared on Wednesday. "You lose a lot of strength and ability on your right side, and you got to compensate... But shoot it's back now."

Thompson expressed comfort returning under Evero's defensive system and hopes to remain with the Panthers long-term.

Kicker Eddy Piñeiro returned for mandatory minicamp this week after missing voluntary sessions earlier in the offseason. He chose not to disclose reasons for his absence but stressed it was not due to competition from rookie Harrison Mevis.

"It's just the NFL, you know, they try to replace you all the time... Everybody has to compete; nobody's job is safe," Piñeiro stated.

Piñeiro aims for excellence this season, aspiring to become one of the top kickers in NFL history.

Injury updates were also provided by Canales. Outside linebacker DJ Johnson left Tuesday’s practice with a knee injury deemed non-serious. Other players like D.J. Wonnum (torn quadricep) and Jonathon Brooks (ACL) have longer recovery timelines but are expected back for training camp.

"As for those banged up... we just have to be smart about ramping them up as we go," Canales added.

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