#1. Vet day off for the following players: RB Christian McCaffrey, TE Greg Olsen, C Matt Paradis, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Kyle Love and LG Greg Van Roten. Players not practicing due to injury: RB Jordan Scarlett (took a shot to the head during Fan Fest). Players practicing after missing time with injury: LB Luke Kuechly (precaution reasons), LB/DE Brian Burns (left leg cramps) and DB Rashaan Gaulden (lower back tightness). Players returning to practice for personal reasons: LB/DE Marquis Haynes and DE Efe Obada.
#2. The players practiced in their shells (helmet & shorts) again today. This is the last practice before their 1st preseason game at Chicago on Thursday evening. Wednesday will be the team travel day. QB Cam Newton, LB Luke Kuechly, RB Jordan Scarlett and CB Kevon Seymour will not play at all.
#3. The following players got first team reps on offense: RB Cameron Artis-Payne, RB Reggie Bonnafon, TE Ian Thomas, OL Dennis Daley. These are the players that got first team reps on defense: DT Vernon Butler Jr., CB Javien Elliott and DB Rashaan Gaulden.
#4. The individual group periods that normally do the 1 on 1 battles were all about going over technique and preparing for the tendencies of the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington was coaching the DTs while Assistant Defensive Line Coach Sam Mills III coached up the DEs. Head coach Ron Rivera made his way around to each group to watch how the players were receiving the detailed instructions and teachings. Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner was speaking with the RBs and the TE groups.
#5. During team drills these were the plays that stood out: RB Artis-Payne made a very nice TD grab in the corner of the end zone from QB Taylor Heinicke pass. TE Thomas also had two TD catches during red zone drills from both QB Kyle Allen and QB Will Grier. WR Rashad Ross caught a deep pass along the sideline from QB Taylor Heinicke. RT Taylor Moton took a hit to his right knee and sat out the rest of the team drills. OT Daryl Williams moved over to play RT and LT Greg Little took over 1st team LT reps. FB Alex Armah broke off a very nice run right up the middle. TE Temarrick Hemingway caught a underthrown pass by Allen. WR DJ Moore made a huge leaping catch on a Newton pass. TE Jason Vander Laan was able to get wide open to catch a TD pass from Allen. TE Chris Manhertz also got a TD grab from Grier. Artis-Payne gets a TD run to go with his TD catch from earlier. The defense was able to make some stand out plays as well. CB Corn Elder intercepted a Newton pass for a Pick 6. S Tre Boston made a nice deflection on a pass meant for WR Terry Godwin that was thrown by Grier. CB Javien Elliott made back to back pass deflections that got Defensive Backs coach Perry Fewell fired up. Gaulden made a huge hit to dislodge the ball from Artis-Payne right at the line of scrimmage. LB/DE Brian Burns got free quickly to blow up a deep playaction pass by Heinicke who would have been sacked.
#6. Today’s practice gave the impression that the team expects to play well at Chicago. What matters the most is seeing consistent execution, all out effort and finish with no serious injuries. In a post practice press conference Rivera said that the hit to the right knee of Moton was no issue at all. He also said that Allen will start at QB on Thursday. His decision to sit out Newton and Kuechly is to see the younger players get plenty of reps. He looks forward to see how the team looks against an opponent.