Who were the winners and losers from a fascinating series of early off-season workouts for the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2023 campaign?
The Carolina Panthers officially concluded their early offseason workouts this week at their mandatory minicamp. And it proved to be two more fascinating days for fans to ponder before everyone went off on their summer break.
Of course, the next stop will be Wofford College in Spartanburg. This is an unforgiving environment thanks to the sweltering heat and unbearable humidity, so it won't take long before some start wilting during Carolina's pivotal training camp which also includes joint practices with the New York Jets.
Plans are officially starting to take shape and there is a renewed belief that the Panthers are in a good position to win. The vibes are completely different for obvious reasons, but as Thomas Davis Sr. stated when speaking to the players after practice on Wednesday, letting all their hard work go before camp is simply not an option.
Looking back on an eventful month, we picked out four winners and losers from Carolina's early off-season sessions in 2023.
Winner: Terrace Marshall Jr. - Carolina Panthers WR
There's been no player benefitting more from the previous regime's demise than Terrace Marshall Jr. The wide receiver is enjoying a new lease on life with a significant opportunity awaiting him in 2023 - bringing about a completely different way in which the former second-round selection out of LSU is carrying himself.
Marshall has his swagger back, which is encouraging. He's caught everything coming his way in practice and has also displayed the sort of work ethic that should serve him well when competitive games arrive.
If Marshall enjoys a strong camp, it puts him in a great position to potentially emerge as the Carolina Panthers' primary receiving option in the immediate aftermath of D.J. Moore's trade to the Chicago Bears. Something that looks entirely possible based on how things are unfolding right now.
Loser: Ian Thomas - Carolina Panthers TE
When the Carolina Panthers signed veteran free agent Hayden Hurst in free agency, things looked bleak for Ian Thomas just one year after he signed an extension. The tight end once again flattered to deceive within a system that wasn't exactly maximizing the position, but a pay-cut compromise ensured he got the chance to stick around in some capacity.
This is seemingly going to be as a blocking specialist unless the former Indiana standout takes a drastic leap forward under the new coaching regime. But based on the last few weeks, Thomas might be falling further down the pecking order given the glowing praise centered on Tommy Tremble throughout Carolina's early offseason workouts.
While there isn't any immediate pressure on Thomas losing his 53-man roster spot, just how involved the fourth-round selection in 2018 becomes under the new coaching regime is unclear. Reading into the Panthers working out Jordan Matthews, they might not be done adding to their options in this area of the field, either.
Either way, the message is clear. The gauntlet has been laid down emphatically and how Thomas responds is going to tell us plenty about what his long-term future in Carolina could look like.
It isn't Thomas' first go-around with doubts surrounding his status. He's survived the speculation before, but things might not be as easy this time around.
Winner: Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB
There are plenty of players gaining interest this offseason for a variety of reasons. But there are no prizes for guessing who the star attraction is.
That, of course, is Bryce Young.
The No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft has immense pressure on his shoulders considering what the Carolina Panthers gave up to bring him into the fold. But looking at the past few weeks, things couldn't have gone much better during his initial transition.
Young's poise, confidence, and understated swagger have left their mark in a positive way. Teammates and coaches haven't had a bad word to say about the former Alabama star, with his production during drills speaking for itself.
Obviously, things will get more difficult when the pads start clapping in the sweltering humidity of Spartanburg. Young will be ready thanks to his meticulous preparation with the No. 1 depth chat position already locked up, so it'll be fascinating to see how he fares.
It's been so refreshing for every Panthers fan to have a clear, concise course of action under center. More importantly, it seems like those in power have the perfect signal-caller to carry out their master plan for progress.
Nobody will be taking anything for granted just yet, Young most of all. However, the player has made believers of almost everyone associated with the franchise and the durability talk is quietening with every passing day for good measure.
Loser: Jaycee Horn - Carolina Panthers CB
If Jaycee Horn thought he was due some good fortune on the injury front heading into the 2023 season, he should think again. The stud cornerback is currently in a walking boot thanks to an ankle and foot complication suffered during an individual workout, which kept him out of mandatory minicamp, and is expected to be healed before the time to descend on Wofford College arrives.
In one way, it's good that the problem occurred when there isn't really anything going on. Missing practice given the Carolina Panthers are transitioning to a 3-4 base defense under Ejiro Evero isn't ideal, but it's not the end of the world by any stretch.
However, this does nothing to quash the concerns about Horn's durability. He's missed a lot of football over his first two years in the league - 18 games to be precise - so it's not hard to see why the injury-prone tag is being labeled at the former South Carolina sensation.
Horn is rolling with the punches after yet another setback, which is the right mindset to have. Because if the No. 8 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft starts getting in his own head, he's already lost half the battle.
Once Horn gets back onto the field, the Panthers must do everything in their power to minimize further risks. If that means treating the defensive back a little differently from the rest, so be it.