The joint practice on Thursday between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Jets was notable, but the main focus was on a player who was not participating. Panthers head coach Dave Canales revealed that starting cornerback Dane Jackson suffered a significant hamstring injury during Wednesday’s practice, potentially sidelining him for up to six weeks.
Canales also shared concerning news about safety Xavier Woods, stating that Woods’ groin injury is more severe than initially thought and will keep him out for at least several weeks. As a result, the Panthers may have to face the New Orleans Saints in their season opener on September 8 without two crucial players from their secondary. On a positive note, tests on running back Chuba Hubbard’s knee yielded encouraging results, with Canales mentioning that they “looked really good.” Moreover, second-year quarterback Bryce Young rebounded from a tough practice the day before, during which he threw two interceptions, and appeared “sharp” in Thursday’s session.
Nonetheless, the lack of depth in the Panthers’ secondary raises significant concerns, particularly at cornerback. With Jackson injured, the team’s options are limited alongside starter Jaycee Horn, who has had his own injury problems and was on a restricted practice regimen that day.
Thursday’s practice involved more than just discussions about injuries. Bryce Young and wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. excelled, connecting for two touchdowns in the red zone. Following the second touchdown, Marshall tossed the ball toward Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, which led to a brief altercation between the teams. Reed responded by throwing the ball back, but it struck Hubbard instead.
Coach Canales voiced his disapproval of the incident, stating, “That’s poor football. We can’t afford that. We want to celebrate our successes, make plays, and not give anything to the opponents.”
Despite the skirmish, Canales expressed satisfaction with Young’s performance overall, especially regarding how he handled the play during Hubbard’s injury. “Moving to the next progression, if it’s not there, you react and quickly get back into the middle of the field in the flow of the play,” Canales remarked. “With the pressure coming, his ability to perform in that situation was impressive.”
