PANTHERS' TRAINING CAMP TAKEAWAYS
What to know ahead of preseason Week 1 game against Buffalo
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17), running back Jonathon Brooks (25) and running back Chuba Hubbard (30) chat during training camp at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Aug. 4.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (15) and receivers during training camp at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Aug. 4.
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) is seen during Fanfest at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on July 31.
NFL
After a breather on Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers got back to the practice field for another installment of training camp ahead of Saturday's Week 1 preseason game against Buffalo.
Here are the top takeaways and observations from training camp this week:
A big return
Starting left guard Damien Lewis returned to the practice field. He had not been able to suit up since July 28 due to a calf injury. Head coach Dave Canales talked about Lewis' work thus far. "D-Lew went through the first part of practice, individual work. Looked great," Canales told reporters. "Was able to move around some. We kept him out of team, got him some extra work on the side, and then that'll be his next progression."
Canales added that he does not expect Lewis to play in Saturday's preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills.
Brooks is back
Running back Jonathon Brooks, on the other hand, is expected to get some action this weekend. Canales confirmed that the thirdyear rusher will be ready to go at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
"He's in great shape," Canales stated of Brooks. "He's ready to rock. He's ready to play football. So now, that's just the next part of it.
"He'll play with the first group. He'll mix in and out with Chuba [Hubbard], and we'll be able to get a good look at those guys with a couple of drives."
Brooks, since being selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, has been limited to just three games due to a pair of ACL tears.
Saturday should mark his first time back on an NFL playing field since Week 14 of his rookie campaign.
By the Horn
Canales also talked about second-year wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. on Wednesday. He touched on Horn's impressive showing in the Hall of Fame Game as well as his outlook to make the initial 53-man roster.
"Really, Jimmy made a great case," Canales stated. "I think we talked the week before — just opportunities. The ball just wasn't finding him in practice. But all of a sudden, you get in a game — he's still fast, he's still tough, he's still competitive. And all of a sudden, he's making these plays that we've been wanting to see him make.
"So, he really did a great job representing himself in that game and just getting a few more reps with the first group and second group during practices."
Horn reeled in four catches for a team-leading 44 receiving yards in last Thursday night's 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
