Panthers quarterback Bryce Young shares insights on the impressive performance of Carolina's rookie class during organized team activities, while head coach Dave Canales offers his perspective on this week's practices. By PRODUCED BY DIAMOND VENCES| FOOTAGE BY MIKE KAYE
It was a soggy start to the summer for the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, as a morning-long rainstorm came and went in uptown ahead of the team’s organized team activities (OTAs) workout. But as the clouds hung over the practice field, just outside of Bank of America Stadium, a handful of young playmakers stood out during individual and team drills.
Quarterback Bryce Young came out firing to begin 11-on-11 drills. And his two top targets were the Panthers’ past two first-round picks, wideouts Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan. While some have wondered how the two young playmakers would get along, Legette and McMillan spent most of the workout celebrating highlight catches with each other.
“It’s all smiles,” Legette said, grinning from ear to ear, following the workout.
Panthers OTAs: Legette, McMillan getting along, making plays
Legette and McMillan had plenty to smile about during the day.
Early in team drills, Legette got open on a deep crossing route and made a catch without breaking stride for a huge gain. Young then hit McMillan on a nice throw toward the sideline in 7-on-7 work.
The pair of receivers would trade highlight plays as the team mixed and matched personnel with different units.
“It’s a great fit — these are two guys that just love to play,” head coach Dave Canales said. “You can feel the joy on them. You can see them, even routes on air, they’ll catch a ball, they’ll put it away with burst, and then they’re looking for the other one and throwing it across the field and playing catch. (McMillan) fits just right into this room, and for two young guys — that we hope to be for here for a long time — it’s about enjoying it. It’s about having fun.”
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales smiles as he talks with fans on his walk to the team’s OTA practice on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Legette and McMillan have been building chemistry since they both returned to the facility earlier this month. The Panthers told Legette before the draft in April that McMillan’s selection was possible before it happened
And Legette has embraced McMillan since the two have become teammates.
“Shoot, we’re trying to win games,” Legette said. “So, I mean, any time you can add a masterpiece like that to what we’re trying to build — it’s great.”
Legette looked noticeably more comfortable running routes during Tuesday’s workout. He glided on crossing routes and made clean catches. He said he got a screw put in his foot as part of a minor procedure in the offseason.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Legette said. “I feel like I’m trending in the right direction. My body is feeling great. I just want to make this year better than last year.”
Carolina Panthers Tetairoa McMillan during the team’s OTA practice on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The second-year wideout also acknowledged that he spent part of the offseason program watching all of his plays from last year. He said that while getting open wasn’t an issue for him, he struggled to consistently catch the ball.
Legette said remedying that quirk in his game has been a focus of his offseason training.
Tight ends and secondary make some noise
Legette and McMillan weren’t the only ones to get into the action. The tight end room was felt as well, especially during 11-on-11 drills.
At one point during team drills, backup QB Andy Dalton fired a high-arching laser to second-year tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. A pair of defenders were hovering in Sanders’ area, but the tight end raised his arms to snatch the ball where only he could bring it in. The play would have gone for a new set of downs (at least) in a game setting.
The team drills also ended on a high note for the position group. Young lifted a pass to Mitchell Evans, a fifth-round pick in April, and the rookie made a contorted catch to the ground to end the workout.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, right, walks to the team’s OTA practice on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Along with the highlights on offense, the defense had a couple of standout plays as well.
Second-year cornerback Chau Smith-Wade picked off a pass from Young that was meant for McMillan over the middle of the field. Smith-Wade, with limited contact during the workout, returned the ball up the field the other way as his teammates cheered.
Later in the workout, Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn made a nice pass breakup on McMillan toward the sideline. Young threw a quicker heater to McMillan and Horn broke it up with a good jump on the ball.
Tommy Tremble undergoes back surgery
Veteran tight end Tommy Tremble underwent successful back surgery last week, according to Canales.
The team expects Tremble be ready to rehab by training camp in July, and the squad will evaluate him from there. Tremble dealt with a back injury throughout last season, and Tremble and the team ultimately made the decision to go forward with the surgery before the start of the summer.
Canales said he didn’t expect the injury to keep Tremble out for the season.
“We were kind of thinking about, talking about it, looking at timelines and stuff like that, and we just felt like for him — he’s 25 years old — let’s get this while he’s young and strong and just be able to get him on the right track,” Canales said.
Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (82) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The 2021 third-round pick signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal in March ahead of free agency. The tight end caught 23 passes last season for a career high 234 yards and two touchdowns, despite missing five games.
Tremble is expected to co-lead the tight end room with Sanders this season. While the timing off the surgery was a bit unusual, Tremble’s importance to the lineup — and the quick turnaround for rehabilitation — made the decision palatable to the organization.
Pass rusher D.J. Wonnum was also not on the field for the workout. Canales said Wonnum’s back recently flared up, and the Panthers are taking precautions before getting him back on the field. Wonnum is expected to be one of the team’s two starters at outside linebacker this season. He collected four sacks in eight games last year.
Wide receiver Jalen Coker, right tackle Taylor Moton and defenisve tackle Derrick Brown were all present at the workout. However, all three players worked away from their teammates during team and individual drills.
Canales said Coker is dealing with a soft tissue injury, while Brown is continuing to recover from meniscus surgery.
Moton frequently took veteran days off last season and notably missed some work due to knee and elbow injuries last year.
Panthers to battle Texans in joint practice in Houston
The Panthers will travel to Houston a bit earlier than expected this summer for a joint practice with the Texans. Prior to their Aug. 16 preseason game, the teams will take part in a combined workout at the Texans’ practice facility.
Canales announced the joint practice on Tuesday following the first media-attended OTA workout.
“We’re going to go down to Houston and practice with them for a day, leading into that game,” Canales said. “That’ll be a great one. You know, it’s warm here — it’s really warm in Houston. I was in Tampa for a year, but I’ve heard Houston just gives you that good work and that humidity. And the heat will be great, especially with opening up at Jacksonville (in Week 1). So, it’ll be a great opportunity for us to get on the road.”
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, left, poses with Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young after the game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 29, 2023. Young and the Panthers got their first win of the season over the Texans, 15-13. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
The Panthers had previously announced a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns in Charlotte. That two-team workout will take place ahead of the Panthers-Browns preseason matchup on Aug. 8 at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers have taken part in just one joint practice per summer during the previous two years. During back-to-back training camps, Carolina hosted the New York Jets ahead of preseason games.
Quick hits
▪ A second-round pick, outside linebacker Nic Scourton remains unsigned. According to Pro Football Talk, Houston Texans wideout Jayden Higgins and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger are the only two second-round picks to have signed their rookie contracts. Both Higgins and Schwesinger received unprecedented fully guaranteed contracts.
Despite not signing his deal yet, Scourton was actively taking part in drills on Tuesday.
Carolina Panthers Nic Scourton warms up during the Carolina Panthers Rookie Minicamp in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, May 10, 2025. KHADEJEH NIKOUYEH Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
▪ By the numbers: The Panthers have four quarterbacks, six running backs, 12 wide receivers, six tight ends and 15 offensive linemen on their offensive depth chart. They have 10 defensive linemen, 10 outside linebackers, seven inside linebackers, nine cornerbacks and seven safeties on defense.
Those positional allocations are around the typical head counts for training camp, so don’t expect much to change in the way of group size. For instance, if they waive a wideout, they will probably add another receiver in response.
Carolina Panthers rookie linebacker Princely Umanmielen, left, gets a ride to the team’s rookie minicamp practice on Friday, May 9, 2025. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
▪ A new cornerback who is somewhat intriguing is MJ Devonshire. He was claimed off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders in April following the draft. Devonshire was a seventh-round pick last season, but he spent his entire rookie campaign on the Las Vegas practice squad. While he’s got average size at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, he has 32-and-7/8-inched arms. Length is important on defense and the Pittsburgh alum — as a cornerback — has longer arms than McMillan (31 1/2 inches), Legette (31 7/8 inches) and Tremble (31 7/8 inches). It’ll be interesting to see if that length sticks out against bigger wideouts this offseason.
The Charlotte Observer
Mike Kaye covers the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. He is a graduate of the University of North Florida.
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