It's been fascinating to watch the Carolina Panthers get into the swing of things over the first week of training camp. Dave Canales and his staff are placing greater demands on their players in pursuit of brighter fortunes next time around. The head coach remains a beacon of positivity, but he's also not afraid to hold this group to account if performance levels aren't up to scratch.
The Panthers are gearing up for their first padded practices this week. This will be the best indicator yet of where this roster is and what more might be needed. Everything seems to be going according to plan so far. More importantly, injury complications have been minimal.
There's a long way to go before final cuts are due. The Panthers have a lot of moving parts that must come together effectively to stand any chance of hitting the ground running in Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints. Staking an early claim always helps, but there are plenty more opportunities to shine in the weeks ahead for those who take a little longer to get going.
With that being said, here are three winners and two losers from Week 1 of Carolina's 2024 training camp.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers training camp Week 1
Winner No. 1
Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
Terrace Marshall Jr. has made an impressive start to training camp. The wide receiver faces a fight to enhance his prospects of making the 53-man roster after a plethora of new additions throughout the offseason. Once again, he's off to a promising opening over the first week of practice.
Marshall's come up with some outstanding catches and seems to be benefitting from Dave Canales' improved teaching methods. Hopes are somewhat growing as a result, but fans are approaching this with a sense of cautious optimism rather than getting too carried away.
This is a familiar tale for the former second-round pick out of LSU. Marshall's been a standout performer over the last two summers. Unfortunately for the wideout, this never transitions effectively to a competitive setting.
The Carolina Panthers would be wise to give Marshall all he can handle from a target standpoint during the preseason. His situation remains precarious entering a contract year, but he's bolstered his chances considerably over the opening exchanges of camp.
Loser No. 1
D.J. Johnson - Carolina Panthers OLB
When asked about the Carolina Panthers' edge-rushing room before camp, general manager Dan Morgan highlighted D.J. Johnson as someone fans and the media might be sleeping on. He wasn't going to say anything else in all honesty, especially as he was part of the front office that traded up for the development project at No. 80 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Johnson got plenty of starting reps over early workouts thanks to D.J. Wonnum's injury and K'Lavon Chaisson deciding to work out away from the facility. That was a big positive, but things reverted to type over the first week of training camp.
The former Oregon star spent the first day of camp working out alone on the side due to illness. Chaisson took over the mantle opposite Jadeveon Clowney and impressed. This puts Johnson on the back foot once again in his quest to firmly establish himself as a key rotational figure in 2024.
To make matters worse, the Panthers also signed Kemoko Turay following a successful tryout. He was preferred to the likes of Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson, so Morgan and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero must like what they see from the former second-round selection out of Rutgers.
This makes it more difficult for Johnson in the coming weeks. Morgan's aggressive roster-building ethos means his spot isn't safe by any stretch of the imagination. Giving up on the player after one season is a definite possibility if the same trend continues before final cuts to cement the initial 53-man roster for Week 1.
That's without taking into account Johnson's age. He'll be 26 years old next season with just one mundane year of NFL experience to call upon. This only raises the stakes further ahead of Carolina's first padded practices this week.
Johnson and others in the edger rushing room should be nervously looking over their shoulders. The need to show out and catch the eye over Week 2 cannot be overstated.
Winner No. 2
Dane Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
There were concerns about the Carolina Panthers' cornerback options heading into training camp. Dan Morgan was more confident than most about the group, but displaying the right performance levels was essential to alleviate some doubts among the fanbase.
It was an encouraging first week for the unit overall. While getting a true evaluation is difficult without shells or pads on, building early momentum is always a good thing. That was the case where free-agent signing Dane Jackson was concerned over Week 1 of camp.
Morgan is extremely positive about Jackson's outlook. He was a big fan of the player coming out of college and had a leading role in the Buffalo Bills selecting him in the seventh round. Although he was seen as a rotational cornerback with the AFC East outfit, the Panthers believe he can thrive with extra responsibilities on his shoulders.
We are still in the opening stages, but Jackson's left a positive impact so far. He's working as the starting outside corner opposite Jaycee Horn. He's also made some outstanding plays in coverage during scrimmages according to those in attendance.
This was a big step in the right direction for Jackson. He's confident in his abilities and wants to repay the faith shown by Morgan throughout his NFL journey up to now. The former Pittsburgh star's given up some completions - most notably to Xavier Legette in one of camp's best highlights so far - but it's been largely encouraging aside from that.
Jackson's made a good beginning to life with the Panthers, but what comes next is more important. The defensive back must continue to provide this level of consistency when the pads go on. After that, making the most of reps when they arrive in preseason is crucial.
There's also the small matter of joint practice with the New York Jets, which will pit Jackson against the likes of Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, and Allen Lazard. Another challenge he must pass with flying colors.
Loser No. 2
Tommy Tremble - Carolina Panthers TE
Tommy Tremble had a monumental opportunity awaiting him this offseason. The Carolina Panthers were giving him a legitimate opportunity to finally become a No. 1 tight end. It's something he's waited for after arguably being mismanaged by the two previous coaching regimes.
The former third-round selection was eager to make the most of this chance. Tremble shone over early offseason workouts and was praised by head coach Dave Canales for his practice intensity coupled with some encouraging emerging leadership. This raised optimism regarding his hopes for a genuine breakout campaign in 2024.
Unfortunately, this momentum came to an abrupt halt. Tremble was shut down after experiencing some tightness in his hamstring. Canales believes taking this cautious approach can limit the risk of complications growing down the road based on comments via Fan Nation.
"We had to shut Tommy down he was starting to experience some tightness in his hamstring, so we wanted to make sure we get ahead of it instead of trying to nurse him through a bunch of days. Let’s get him really healthy and have him come back to us the way we know he can be."Dave Canales via Fan Nation
This is a slight blow for Tremble. Veteran tight end Ian Thomas has been getting plenty of work in his absence and is making plays in the passing game. If the same trend continues before the Notre Dame product gets medically cleared to participate, the urgency to hit the ground running is obvious.
All hope is not lost with Tremble - far from it. He's got the athleticism needed to be impactful within Canales' scheme. The fourth-year pro can become the total package at the tight-end spot with some extra refinement. Hopefully, this hamstring issue will be nothing more than a bump in the road.
Playing catch-up is less than ideal for Tremble. He'll need to approach this latest stumbling block with the same determination to ensure it doesn't have any lingering effect on his hopes of making a better go of things in 2024.
Winner No. 3
Jonathan Mingo - Carolina Panthers WR
Jonathan Mingo's rookie campaign can be best described as disastrous. The wide receiver didn't get the correct early development and suffered accordingly. He wasn't alone in that regard, but the need to impress Dave Canales' new offensive staff was glaring.
Mingo has the physical tools to become a difference-maker. Building back confidence gradually is the biggest objective this offseason. Once self-belief increases, it would be disappointing if the former second-round pick didn't make his presence felt despite the Carolina Panthers making some outstanding additions to their wideout group.
The presence of Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette diminished Mingo's margin for error in pursuit of prominent involvement. The Ole Miss product made no secret of his desire to silence some ongoing doubters throughout camp and when the regular season arrives. There have been notable improvements on display over the first few practice sessions.
There is a lot to like about Mingo's sharpness. He's been explosive out of his route stems and is making tough catches look easy. There's a long way to go and some significant hurdles to navigate before Week 1 at the New Orleans Saints, but the player looks rejuvenated in a more positive environment in which to thrive.
Canales praised Mingo and other wide receivers for the way they've performed so far. Keeping this up is the next challenge, especially when the pads are donned and when the time comes for joint practice with the New York Jets.
That will be a better litmus test for Mingo. Impressing in shorts is one thing. Getting it done when practice becomes more competitive is another matter.
It's way too soon to give up on Mingo. He's got every athletic attribute one looks for in a productive NFL wide receiver. If Canales' staff can refine some technical flaws and light a fire in the pass-catcher, he could be a surprise most teams won't see coming during the 2024 campaign.