Panthers WR offers weak explanation for 'dumb football' play during joint practice vs. Jets

Carolina Panthers wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. had a big day in Thursday's joint practice against the New York Jets, hauling in two touchdown receptions.

However, his actions after the second score sparked a dust-up, leading to criticism from his head coach.

"Dumb football. We can't have that, guys fighting," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. "We want to celebrate with each other, We want to make big plays and give the opponent nothing. This is the exact type of stuff that I've been hitting them on, especially going into this practice. You know, he got excited. He made a great play on a really good player. Leave it at that, a great football play. How about we celebrate that?"

NFL head coaches have warned their players all summer long about joint practice fights, but they're still happening.

"Honestly, I was just in the moment. I was in the moment," Marshall said. "Like I said, I wouldn't do [anything] to hurt the team if we [were] in a game. It was just in the moment and excitement. I leave everything out on the field."

The 24-year-old's claim that he wouldn't do something like his post-TD ball flip in a regular-season contest likely isn't a good enough explanation for his coach.

Marshall is entering his fourth season since being selected by Carolina in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His best year came in 2022 when he finished a distant second on the Panthers in targets (47) and receiving yards (490) via 28 catches.

The LSU product is expected to be a depth piece behind projected starting wideouts Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo.