The Carolina Panthers began this summer with plenty of physicality.
They ended it with a fight, too.
On one of the final scrimmage periods on Tuesday — the last day of practice ahead of the team’s final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night — several Panthers players got into a scuffle. And those at the center of it weren’t just any players; they were the team’s stars.
Starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu got in the mix. Cornerback Jaycee Horn threw a punch. Tre’Von Moehrig — the hard-hitting, he-is-everywhere newly signed safety — was jawing well after the inciting play subsided.
And head coach Dave Canales? He was seen smiling behind the play.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales talks with an official on Aug. 16, 2025, against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Troy Taormina USA TODAY NETWORK
Canales told reporters afterward that he and the coaching staff challenged his players to end on a high note heading into the conclusion of the preseason. And they did — even if they went a bit over the line, so to speak.
“We may have pushed the guys a little too hard in the team meeting this morning,” Canales told reporters after practice Tuesday, shedding a smile. “They were a little excited today. But it was the final opportunity in pads for the starting group, who will not be playing Thursday. We had a great move the ball session at the end.
“It got heated toward the end there. Some unbelievably physical plays. Some hard runs. Safeties showing up. Some great rushes. And they just were kind of in a competitive moment.”
Injured Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, center, stands with his teammates during action against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium. The Browns defeated the Panthers 30-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Canales went on to say that “tempers flared” and that the coaches “try to push the guys to the edge” but that they “went a little bit over.” He hopes this is a learning moment. It wouldn’t be the first one this camp. Xavier Legette, after all, was ejected from the first preseason game on the second drive for swinging on a Cleveland Browns defender.
“But at the same time, that’s the edge we have to play with,” Canales said. He added, “I’m going to talk to the guys this afternoon: ‘OK, if you throw a punch, you’re gone. Where does the rest of the team sit when that happens?’ Good teachable moment there. But a fantastic day at work.”
But the truth was that this practice needed some juice. Players could tell. The first-team offense ran one gasser — or sprints — after a mistake early on in practice. It was so out of the ordinary it initially confused Canales before he realized it was a player-led initiative.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales yells instructions to his team during action against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium. The Browns defeated the Panthers 30-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Such a moment is a welcomed one for a team that came out slow in its most recent preseason outing against the Houston Texans. The first-team offense played seven snaps and was pulled after two series; the second-team offense’s quarterback Andy Dalton hurt his elbow not long after; and the third-team offense couldn’t get much going en route to a 20-3 loss.
The team — offense and defense — held its own in an earlier joint practice with the Texans, true. And the first-teamers also played well in the joint practice and preseason contest against the Cleveland Browns.
But after Saturday’s melee, and then Monday’s walk-through, the Panthers were due for some physicality. Some competition. Some ... fight.
Some fight, even, a bit after practice, too.
“They kept talking,” Canales said. “Chuba (Hubbard) kind of came up to them at the end and said, ‘Guys, at the end of the day, we’re all family. It’s going to get heated like this sometimes. But we gotta move forward together.”
Here’s what else happened at practice Tuesday.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker, left, fights for position to catch a pass against Cleveland Browns cornerback Myles Harden, right, during action on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Jalen Coker among starters to play in final preseason game. Who else will suit up?
Canales reiterated Tuesday that the starters will not play at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Steelers in Bank of America Stadium. But it seems there is one notable exception.
Jalen Coker, a second-year receiver who’s had a wonderful camp, will play Thursday. He’ll do so for conditioning reasons, Canales said, after Coker missed time last week with an illness.
The former undrafted rookie out of Holy Cross is considered the fourth or fifth wide receiver on the Panthers’ deep depth chart, but with presumably Tetairoa McMillan (mild hamstring) out, as well as Legette and Adam Thielen also sitting out for rest, he’ll assume many of the WR1 responsibilities.
Coker said he’s excited for the challenge.
“I think we’re going to play our brand of football,” Coker said. “So we’re going to have Jack (Plummer) out there, and me and the receivers, we’re going to have to make plays when they come to us. ... We just gotta get that ball rolling early.”
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker looks for a flag after fighting for position to catch a pass against Cleveland Browns cornerback Myles Harden, right, during action on Aug. 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Here are four other guys to watch in the final preseason game:
Brycen Tremayne. The wide receiver came into a deep room but has impressed all training camp — so well, in fact, that he’s vying to make the 53-man roster. Another good showing Thursday will make a difficult decision even harder come cut-down day on Aug. 26.
Krys Barnes. The inside linebacker has only been in Carolina for two weeks, but he’s made his presence known in practice and in the preseason games. A final good showing could help solidify him on a linebacking corps that already includes Trevin Wallace, Christian Rozeboom and Claudin Cherelus.
Thomas Incoom. The outside linebacker has had a great camp. It’s a busy OLB group — what with two rookie draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen added to the fold with Pat Jones II and DJ Wonnum — but Incoom has one more chance to prove he’s worth making the 53-man roster.
Bryce Perkins. The fourth-string QB isn’t necessarily playing for a spot on the active roster Thursday. The Panthers are committed to Bryce Young and Dalton, and keeping a third is a luxury nearly no NFL team has. But is the former UFL quarterback in the mix for a practice squad spot? If he plays well Thursday, anything is on the table.
The Cleveland Browns’ Luke Floriea runs with the ball as the Carolina Panthers’ Krys Barnes tackles him during a preseason game on Aug. 8, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium. Lila Turner lturner@charlotteobserver.com
Injury report
The injury list from Tuesday is the same from Monday. Those who didn’t practice: McMillan (hamstring), outside linebacker Nic Scourton (lung), outside linebacker DJ Johnson (hip), guard Damien Lewis (shoulder), defensive end LaBryan Ray (ankle) and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (knee). Tight end Tommy Tremble, still on the physically unable to perform list with a back injury, also did individual work to the side of the field.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn (hand) practiced just like he did Monday, still favoring that right hand in team drills a bit. Coker (illness), Dalton (elbow), offensive lineman Chandler Zavala (knee), defensive lineman Cam Jackson (shoulder) and Cherelus (groin) participated as well.
Canales offered an injury update apiece on Tremble and Lewis after practice.
“So Tommy (Tremble) is doing great,” Canales said of Tremble. “He’s running full speed. He’s looking toward just getting some more physical contact. And getting that adaptation part before we can fully clear him. He won’t be playing this week. But he’s on track (for Week 1). He’s had no setbacks.”
Canales added of Lewis: “Damien is getting stronger every day. He’s getting his stability and strength back. I was told he could play this week if we had to. We’re not going to do that. He’s still getting stronger. We want to just capitalize on that part as we go into the season. But I wouldn’t say he’s 100% playing for Week 1. This is a progression just like anything else. So we’ll have to go week to week still.”
Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (82) walks off after practice at training camp on July 26, 2025. Scott Kinser USA TODAY NETWORK
Quick hits
Canales told reporters that he and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will call the plays Thursday. This is a change from the previous two preseason weeks. For the defense, secondary coach Jonathan Cooley called the plays in preseason Week 1 and linebackers coach Pete Hansen did so preseason Week 2. Brad Idzik called the offense the first two weeks in the Panthers’ preseason.
The play of the day was an easy one to spot. It came thanks to Moehrig, the Panthers’ much anticipated investment, who picked off a Young pass during 11-on-11 work. Young fired it over the middle to Coker; cornerback Mike Jackson was in coverage and got a pass deflection; and Moehrig collected the ball from there.
Newly signed QB Perkins and Canales shared a special moment before practice Tuesday. Canales does the warmups with the team, and the two were right next to each other and talked. Let’s let Canales paint the scene from there. “He was like, ‘The one thing that I learned playing in the UFL is guys are playing for the love of the game. It’s about passion. It’s about opportunity. And it’s about proving something to themselves.’ ... I just got chills hearing that. That’s it right there. That’s the mentality at any level, especially here, where guys can take it for granted. ... We’re living the dream doing this. So it was a really cool conversation.”