Carolina Panthers training camp: New faces, roster battles and important practice dates

The Carolina Panthers will begin their first public training camp in Charlotte this week when the team’s veteran players return to Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday.

After revamping the practice fields outside of the stadium, the Panthers will have a new look, on and off the field, with first-year head coach Dave Canales leading the charge. General manager Dan Morgan was busy this offseason upgrading a 2-15 roster , and there are several new faces — and quite a few familiar ones — set to battle it out this summer.

Can Bryce Young and company rebound after a brutal 2023 output? That’s the hope under new leadership with several potential upgrades infused into the roster.

Notable new faces on Panthers’ 2024 roster

▪ WR Diontae Johnson: The Panthers acquired the 2021 Pro Bowl playmaker in a low-risk, high-reward trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. Johnson is expected to be Young’s top receiving option in 2024, and he will have every reason to stand out, as he enters the final year of his contract. In five NFL seasons, Johnson has caught 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.

▪ OLB Jadeveon Clowney: The Rock Hill, South Carolina, native is in for a homecoming with his local team after signing a two-year deal this offseason. Clowney produced 9.5 sacks last season with the Baltimore Ravens, and the Panthers are hoping the former first overall pick can make up for the loss of Brian Burns this season. Clowney, at 31, still has plenty left in the tank.

▪ RG Robert Hunt: The Panthers wanted to improve the protection around their second-year quarterback and signed Hunt to a five-year, $100 million deal in free agency as a result. Hunt will line up between veterans Austin Corbett and Taylor Moton and look to improve the line with his physicality. Hunt’s contract was a heavy investment , and the Panthers need him to stay healthy and productive to make good on the gamble.

▪ LG Damien Lewis: Like Hunt, Lewis was signed to a big contract in free agency . After inking a four-year, $53 million deal with the franchise, Lewis was reunited with Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, whom he worked with in Seattle during the first three years of his career. Lewis’ familiarity with the staff should help him get off to a fast start this summer.

▪ DE A’Shawn Robinson: The veteran defensive lineman is expected to help fix the run-stopping power of the front seven this season. With Robinson partnering with Pro Bowl defender Derrick Brown in the trenches, the Panthers hope to have a towering front that wards off big runs. Robinson signed a three-year deal in the offseason, and his familiarity with the coaching staff should put him in prime position to succeed in his first year with the Panthers.

▪ LB Josey Jewell: With Frankie Luvu now in Washington, the Panthers needed to replace the versatile linebacker with a savvy veteran in the middle of the defense . Jewell played for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and inside linebackers coach Peter Hansen in Denver in 2022. Jewell’s understanding of the defensive system should help him fit right in next to fellow veteran, Shaq Thompson.

▪ CB Dane Jackson: A longtime favorite of general manager Dan Morgan, Jackson was signed to a low-end starter contract this offseason. Jackson is expected to compete for the No. 2 cornerback job opposite Jaycee Horn this summer. Jackson, a former Buffalo Bills defender, needs to replace C.J. Henderson or Donte Jackson in the lineup to be a worthwhile addition.

▪ S Jordan Fuller: Like several of the other new recruits this offseason, Fuller has experience working with Evero . The former Los Angeles Rams safety has a familiarity with the system, and that background should help him as he replaces Vonn Bell opposite Xavier Woods in the starting lineup. Fuller is signed to a one-year deal, so he has a lot to prove to Carolina and the rest of the league this season.

Carolina Panthers’ 2024 draft class

▪ Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina — First round, 32nd overall: The Panthers’ top pick is expected to make an immediate impact within Canales’ offense as rookie. Legette is a big, strong, and fast pass-catcher who can win jump-ball opportunities and make plays down the field.

▪ Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas — Second round, 46th overall: Coming off ACL surgery , Brooks will be eased into the crowded competition at running back this summer. He was placed on the active/non-football injury list on Friday, but he can be taken off the list at any point during training camp or the preseason. Brooks, when healthy, was a home-run hitter out of the backfield at Texas, and he provides the Panthers with a long-term plan at the position.

▪ Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky — Third round, 72nd overall: Wallace is an athletic freak at the inside linebacker position. He should push the veterans in front of him and serve as an heir apparent to Thompson as a rookie.

▪ Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas — Fourth round, 101st overall: Similar to Wallace, Sanders has athletic traits that make him an extremely intriguing prospect . A pass-catching playmaker with notable upside, Sanders could see a surprising amount of targets in the offense as a rookie.

▪ Chau Smith-Wade, CB, Washington State — Fifth round, 157th overall: Smith-Wade showed versatility during his time at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama in January. While he played mostly outside corner at Washington State, NFL pundits believe he is best fit at the nickel position, which he learned this offseason in preparation for the draft. He will begin the summer on sideline on the PUP list.

▪ Jaden Crumedy, DL, Mississippi State — Sixth round, 200th overall: Crumedy was added to provide youthful depth on the defensive line. He will compete to make the squad as a backup this summer.

▪ Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan — Seventh round, 240th overall: Like Crumedy, Barrett was selected to provide cost-effective, youthful depth behind a pair of aging starters. Barrett will need to shine on special teams to earn a game-day role on the roster.

Five training camp competitions to monitor in Carolina

▪ Starting running back: Chuba Hubbard vs. Miles Sanders — The Panthers will bring Brooks along slowly in training camp, so the two veterans will battle to be at the top of the totem pole this summer. Hubbard is coming off a career year, while Sanders is looking to put his lowly 2023 campaign behind him. Both Hubbard and Sanders should have plenty of motivation to win the starting competition in the backfield with the Panthers looking to run the ball consistently.

▪ No. 2 cornerback: Dane Jackson vs. Troy Hill — The No. 2 cornerback spot might be biggest question mark on defense . While Jackson and Hill have plenty of starting experience, their production has been up and down throughout their respective careers in that role. Jackson should be considered the favorite at the moment with a two-year contract and a history with the front office. Hill is ideally built for the top nickel corner job.

▪ Outside wide receiver: Xavier Legette vs. Jonathan Mingo — Legette struggled with a hamstring injury during the offseason program, but he is expected to be a full go this summer. Mingo, who is coming off a forgettable rookie campaign, will look to make good on his draft pedigree and one-up the rookie in the starting lineup. With Johnson and Adam Thielen expected to have major roles, the two young wide receivers will look to become the third member of a wideout trio. Legette has the advantage as the initial first-round pick of the Morgan-Canales era.

▪ Kicker: Eddy Piñeiro vs. Harrison Mevis —Piñeiro skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason program in the spring, so the Panthers brought in Mevis, an undrafted rookie, to fill his spot in practice. Mevis impressed during his time as the lone kicker on the field, and Piñeiro returned for mandatory minicamp in limited action. Piñeiro has just $150,000 in guaranteed money on his $2 million base salary. After battling injuries over the past two years, Piñeiro needs to stay healthy to stick around and potentially earn a raise.

▪ Tight end: Tommy Tremble vs. Ian Thomas vs. Ja’Tavion Sanders vs. Stephen Sullivan vs. Jordan Matthews — The tight end depth chart appears to be wide open on paper. While Tremble has garnered quite a bit of praise from Morgan and Canales this offseason, he still needs to have a strong summer to lead the position group. Thomas has been a trusty blocker for the team for years, but he needs to continue to show his value as a pass catcher as he did during the offseason program. Sanders, the fourth-round pick, is dynamic, but he still has a ways to go from a technique standpoint. Sullivan and Matthews make for an intriguing depth battle.

Key dates for Carolina Panthers training camp

The Panthers will host 15 training camp practices with 14 taking place on the practice fields outside of Bank of America Stadium. To attend practices, fans are required to register through Ticketmaster due to attendance limitations.

▪ July 23: Veterans report

▪ July 24: First practice in Charlotte (at capacity, considered sold out by team)

▪ July 27: “Back Together” Saturday in Charlotte

▪ Aug. 1: Fan Fest at Clemson University, 6:30 p.m. ( Tickets to attend cost $5 and are available on Ticketmaster )

▪ Aug. 8: Preseason matchup at New England Patriots, 7 p.m. (Gillette Stadium)

▪ Aug. 15: Joint practices with Jets in Charlotte (at capacity, considered sold out by team)

▪ Aug. 17: Preseason matchup against Jets, 7 p.m. (Bank of America Stadium)

▪ Aug. 24: Preseason matchup at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (Highmark Stadium)

▪ Aug. 27: Teams must cut their rosters down from 90 players to 53 players by 4 p.m.