Latest news with #Canales
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
NFL Network to air 2 Panthers games during 2025 preseason
NFL Network to air 2 Panthers games during 2025 preseason The Carolina Panthers are going to get a little extra exposure this summer. As announced on Wednesday, the NFL Network is set to cover 21 live preseason games in August—including two that feature the Panthers. Those contests will both emanate from Bank of America Stadium, with Carolina hosting the Cleveland Browns on Friday, Aug. 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET (Week 1) and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET (Week 3). Their opener against Cleveland will be preceded by a joint practice, something head coach Dave Canales talked about earlier this offseason. "We were just both curious about getting this joint practice going into preseason, and we got excited about the format of what that could look like,' Canales said of Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski at March's league meetings. "We feel like at that point in camp, you're starting to build some good capacity to be able to handle a little bit more volume, a little higher speed, and getting the competitive element. Particularly because we both plan on playing our guys in the preseason." Carolina's second exhibition outing, which locks them up with the Houston Texans, will also follow a joint practice. That matchup is slated for Saturday, Aug. 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
8 biggest takeaways from the Panthers' opening week of 2025 OTAs
8 biggest takeaways from the Panthers' opening week of 2025 OTAs After a weekend off, the Carolina Panthers are set to return to the practice field on Monday for their second and final string of organized team activities. Tomorrow's outing will mark the first of three sessions for the week, with the second coming on Tuesday, June 3 and the third on Thursday, June 5. But before they get started, let's look back at the biggest takeaways from the Panthers' first week of OTAs . . . The recovery of Derrick Brown moves along Eight months after undergoing season-ending meniscus surgery, defensive lineman Derrick Brown appeared on the practice field with his helmet in hand this past Tuesday. And although he did not end up participating in team drills, the Pro Bowler's presence feels like a positive sign moving forward. Brown talked about his recovery last month. "Just doing what the doctors and the trainers are allowing me to do at this point. No rush," he said back on Apr. 23. "Just trying to get back and I would like to be able to be there when the team gets ready to play in September. So I'm following the protocol as is." Carolina's young tight ends will have to step up Unlike Brown, tight end Tommy Tremble probably isn't planning on being ready for September. Canales revealed that Tremble, who signed a new two-year deal this spring, recently underwent back surgery. "Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery," Canales stated. "We were kinda thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that and just felt like for him . . . he's 25 years old. Let's get this thing while he's young and strong and be able to get him back on the right track. So we just decided to do that now, looking forward." A team spokesperson later added that Tremble is expected to be rehabbing by the time training camp rolls around, putting his early-season availability into considerable doubt. If Tremble is not good to go by Week 1, the Panthers may be looking for something extra out 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans. Hunter Renfrow continues his comeback Canales also spoke about veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who hasn't played an NFL down since 2023. "You see weekly, he just makes these huge strides, just getting his feet under him," Canales said. "And I can tell too, just having coached wide receivers especially, but he's got a lot in his game. Releases, top-of-the-route setup, avoidance, different things where he can double up stuff at the top of his routes. Renfrow, 29, missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a battle with ulcerative colitis. The Panthers signed the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native and Clemson University product in late April. Xavier Legette looks to bounce back Wideout Xavier Legette didn't have the finest of stretches to end his rookie campaign. But with one season of NFL ball under Legette's belt and a fellow first-round receiver now by his side, Canales is hoping for a leap out of the second-year pass catcher. "What I see is a year into the system," he told reporters. "Just the speed that he's playing with now, with the level of comfort he has with what we're doing. When I see him smiling, I know he's in a good space. And he really has just been enjoying this offseason. Working hard. He looks big and fast. "And I think with TMac [Tetairoa McMillan] coming into the room, again, it's just options," Canales later added. "It opens things up, it creates a little bit of balance—where the field doesn't tilt one way or the other. So you have two guys who can make it happen outside and that's a good thing." After taking Legette with the 32nd overall pick in 2024, the Panthers nabbed McMillan with this year's eighth overall pick. Locking horns in Houston The Panthers, as they'd hoped, were able to set up a joint practice with the Houston Texans for later this summer. That workout will come before the teams face off in the second week of the preseason at NRG Stadium on Aug. 16. Carolina also has a joint practice slated with the Cleveland Browns, their first opponent for exhibition play. Early stages of the kicker competition With Eddy Piñeiro left unsigned, the Panthers are on the hunt for a new placekicker. The two contenders for the job are veteran journeyman Matthew Wright and undrafted rookie Ryan Fitzgerald. Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith broke down the differences between them on Wednesday. "Matt is more experienced," Smith stated. "He's played on more NFL teams. He has a whole year of the kickoff rule he's dealt with. The box is checked. He knows what he's doing on that. He's ahead mentally on all that stuff. "Ryan is coming straight from college. So all of the rule stuff, it's all first time out. It's practicing with an NFL team—it's completely different, the lifestyle and all those things. So he's different in that way. But also a very successful last two years in college, has a great leg. "So we're kinda seeing pros and cons of each guy and seeing where it goes. There's no reason to really call a leader anywhere in the near future." Wright, who has picked up 17 different stints with nine NFL teams, has converted on 55 of his 63 career field goal attempts (87.3 percent). He has also booted through 41 of his 43 extra point tries. Fitzgerald, over his last three seasons at Florida State University, converted on 44 of his 54 field goals (80 percent) and 129 of his 130 extra points. Rebuilding the edge The Panthers are leaving their pass-rushing responsibilities to the youngsters. 32-year-old Jadeveon Clowney was released three weeks ago, leaving the unit without one of its 2024 sack leaders. And while defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero was thankful for Clowney's work last season, he and the organization are hoping its fresher faces will seize their new opportunities. "We're certainly looking for everyone in that room—and really, on the entire defense, coaches included—to perform better," Evero said of the outside linebackers. "But in terms of leadership, I certainly love what Pat Jones is gonna bring to the table, what D.J. Wonnum is gonna bring to the table, DJ Johnson going into his third year, the leadership of Coach [AC] Carter as well. "So, at the end of the day, there's opportunity for everyone in that room. There's competition for everyone in that room. There's competition all the way across our defense and we're excited about that." Carolina signed Jones to a two-year, $15 million deal this spring. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high 7.0 sacks and 12 quarterback hits. They also drafted two pass rushers, Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, on the second day of the 2025 NFL draft. Adding another element to the offense Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was asked what he thinks McMillan adds to the offense. "TMac, he does a phenomenal job of being friendly to the quarterback in every route he runs," Idzik stated. "You talk about shaving the top of routes on in-breaks to out-breaks and being a hands catcher, he does a great job in that right. And I think he's just another element to this group of guys, that when they're playing confident, you have to take advantage of defenses that are not pushing coverage towards one individual or the other. "So, I think that's what we're most excited about. He's a true pass catcher. He's got the whole route tree under his belt that he can run and we're just trying to keep him up to speed with the rest of the guys as we push the envelope on how much they can handle." McMillan comes in off a very productive collegiate career. He reeled in 213 receptions for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns during his three years at the University of Arizona. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Best sights and sounds from the first day of Panthers' 2025 OTAs
The Carolina Panthers hit the field this afternoon to begin the next stage of their offseason—team organized activities. Known more commonly as OTAs, these voluntary, non-contact workouts serve as an appetizer of sorts for the heavier tasks ahead. Tuesday marked the first of six sessions of OTAs, with the bookend of this phase coming next week on June 5. Advertisement But how did the team start off? Well, head coach Dave Canales seemed rather upbeat about the effort. "What a great day," Canales said in opening up his post-practice presser. "We've been building and working out and training for this, to get back on the field and just get this thing started. Going against offense versus defense and being able to fly around in there. Of course, with the time of year that it is, the guys gotta be able to work full-speed and be able to take care of each other, and I felt like we did that today. So, really exciting stuff." Oh, and luckily, team reps and beat reporters were on hand to document some of that really exciting stuff. Here are the best sights and sounds from the Panthers' first installment of 2025 OTAs . . . Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers 2025 OTAs: Best sights and sounds from Day 1
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Biggest takeaways from the start of Panthers' 2025 OTAs
The Carolina Panthers seemingly got what they wanted out of the first session of team organized activities this afternoon. In fact, head coach Dave Canales went as far as describing the outing as a "great day." We also, even in this lighter stage of the offseason, learned quite a few interesting things about the current state of the squad. Here are the biggest takeaways from the start of this year's OTAs . . . The recovery of Derrick Brown moves along Eight months after undergoing season-ending meniscus surgery, defensive lineman Derrick Brown appeared on the practice field with his helmet in hand. And although he did not end up participating in team drills, the Pro Bowler's presence feels like a positive sign moving forward. Brown talked about his recovery last month. "Just doing what the doctors and the trainers are allowing me to do at this point. No rush," he said back on Apr. 23. "Just trying to get back and I would like to be able to be there when the team gets ready to play in September. So I'm following the protocol as is." Carolina's young tight ends will have to step up Unlike Brown, tight end Tommy Tremble probably isn't planning on being ready for September. Canales revealed that Tremble, who signed a new two-year deal this spring, recently underwent back surgery. "Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery," Canales stated. "We were kinda thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that and just felt like for him . . . he's 25 years old. Let's get this thing while he's young and strong and be able to get him back on the right track. So we just decided to do that now, looking forward." A team spokesperson later added that Tremble is expected to be rehabbing by the time training camp rolls around, putting his early-season availability into considerable doubt. If Tremble is not good to go by Week 1, the Panthers may be looking for something extra out 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans. Hunter Renfrow continues his comeback Canales also spoke about veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who hasn't played an NFL down since 2023. "You see weekly, he just makes these huge strides, just getting his feet under him," Canales stated. "And I can tell too, just having coached wide receivers especially, but he's got a lot in his game. Releases, top-of-the-route setup, avoidance, different things where he can double up stuff at the top of his routes. Renfrow, 29, missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a battle with ulcerative colitis. The Panthers signed the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native and Clemson University product in late April. Xavier Legette looks to bounce back Wideout Xavier Legette didn't have the finest stretches to end his rookie campaign. But with one season of NFL ball under Legette's belt and a fellow first-round receiver now by his side, Canales is hoping for a leap out of the second-year pass catcher. "What I see is a year into the system," Canales stated. "Just the speed that he's playing with now, with the level of comfort he has with what we're doing. When I see him smiling, I know he's in a good space. And he really has just been enjoying this offseason. Working hard. He looks big and fast. "And I think with TMac [Tetairoa McMillan] coming into the room, again, it's just options," Canales later added. "It opens things up, it creates a little bit of balance—where the field doesn't tilt one way or the other. So you have two guys who can make it happen outside and that's a good thing." After taking Legette with the 32nd overall pick in 2024, the Panthers nabbed McMillan with this year's eighth overall pick. Locking horns in Houston The Panthers, as they'd hoped, were able to set up a joint practice with the Houston Texans for later this summer. That workout will come before the teams face off in the second week of the preseason at NRG Stadium on Aug. 16. Carolina also has a joint practice slated with the Cleveland Browns, their first opponent for exhibition play. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Panthers coach: TE Tommy Tremble (back surgery) could be ready for season
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble had back surgery last week but could be ready for the regular season in September, coach Dave Canales said Tuesday. Tremble missed the first day of organized team activities on Tuesday, along with outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum and wide receiver Jalen Coker . Canales said that Tremble, who turns 25 on June 2, will miss OTAs and minicamp with the goal to rehabilitate during training camp. He is expected to start camp on the physically unable to perform list. "Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery," Canales said. "We were kind of thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that, and just felt like for him to give him the . He's 25 years old. You know, let's get this thing while he's young and strong and be able to just get back on the right track." Tremble, who missed some time because of back issues, started 11 of 12 games played in 2024 and caught 23 of 32 targets for 234 yards and two touchdowns. A third-round pick by Carolina in the 2021 NFL Draft, Tremble has 85 career receptions for 782 yards and nine TDs in 61 games . Wonnum, 27, started all eight games he played last season and made 37 tackles, including four sacks, along with six quarterback hits and one forced fumble. Minnesota selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. He had 171 tackles, 23 sacks, 49 QB hits, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 62 regular-season games for the Vikings from 2020-23. Coker, 23, played in 11 games as a rookie last season and caught 32 of 46 targets for 478 yards and two TDs. Defensive lineman Derrick Brown was practicing but not a full participant on Tuesday, eight months after knee surgery. "He's feeling great though," Canales said. "And he's feeling more and more confident with the change of direction, body on body, you know, getting some weight-bearing type of things that way." Brown, 27, was the seventh overall pick of the 2020 draft. He went on injured reserve on Sept. 10, 2024, after being injured in the season opener against the New Orleans Saints. He has 248 career tackles with eight sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 48 QB hits and two interceptions in 67 games . He was a Pro Bowl pick in 2023. Canales also announced that the Panthers will have a joint practice with the Texans in Houston prior to their Aug. 16 preseason game in Texas. Carolina also will host the Cleveland Browns for practice before their preseason opener on Aug. 8 in Charlotte. The Panthers open the regular season on Sept. 7 at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Field Level Media
