Carolina Panthers Ultimate Training Camp Guide
Carolina's Training Camp kicks off later this week. What do fans need to know about this season's camp?
This article was last updated following GM Dan Morgan’s pre-camp presser on Wednesday, 7.22 ~ 12:15pm EST
Usually, the time between post-draft minicamps and training camp is a boring time for NFL fans. Luckily this summer, the 2026 World Cup was able to hold it down and bring the excitement.
After Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday in MetLife Stadium, however, it’s time to turn the attention back to the American variant of football.
For Carolina, training camp is here. By the time you’re reading this, the Panthers will have already reported for camp.
Rookies need to be in town on July 21st, and veterans will show up the next day. Practice is slated to start later in the week.
With real NFL action just a few days away, let’s take a look at everything fans need to know about Carolina’s 2026 Training Camp.
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When Is It?
As stated above, everyone will have reported to camp by July 22nd. Practices, preseason games, and fan events will continue until the end of training camp in August. The timeline looks something like this:
July 21 - Rookies report to camp
July 22 - Veteran players report to camp
July 23 - First scheduled practice
July 31 - Fan Fest
Aug. 6 - Hall of Fame Game in Canton, OH
Aug. 15 - Preseason Game 1 in Buffalo
Aug. 19 - Joint Practice with Jacksonville
Aug. 21 - Preseason Game 2 in Jacksonville
Aug. 26 - Joint Practice with Houston
Aug. 28 - Preseason Game 3 vs. Houston
Over the next month or so, Carolina will be getting back into the swing of things. Between practices, joint practices with other teams, and four preseason contests, the Panthers will be busy over the next four or five weeks.
With the Panthers slow starts over the last few seasons, having as much possible exposure in training camp and the preseason is only a good thing.
Hopefully, two joint practices and four preseason contests will carry over into the regular season debut vs. Chicago.
What’s Brad Idzik Bringing?
Perhaps the person that could benefit the most from extra preseason reps is new offensive play-caller Brad Idzik.
Idzik has been in lockstep with Dave Canales for years, but now has his shot to be an NFL play-caller. Earlier this offseason, Canales announced that Idzik would be taking the reins in that department.
While Idzik has called plays in the preseason before, it’s a bit different when he’s the man in charge. The next four to five weeks will be paramount for Idzik to get his timing, cadence, and relationship with Bryce Young up to speed.
In terms of the actual plays being called, don’t expect too much of a difference compared to how Canales sequenced plays.
The only major difference I anticipate with Idzik being the play-caller, is that Dave Canales will be free to focus on the game as a whole. A more agnostic view of the game may lead to Canales being more comfortable with Idzik letting it loose and calling more home run plays.
New Associate Head Coach Darrell Bevell will also be helpful for Idzik as he navigates this new chapter. Bevell has a bevy of NFL experience as a play-caller, and has likely already given Idzik pointers regarding to play-calling process.
Camp Battles
One of the highlights of training camp are the position battles. Throughout the process, Carolina will go from 90+ players down to a roster of 53 following cut day. Camp battles are an important part of determining both starters and depth.
For the Panthers, there are quite a few position battles that need to play out. The team is good enough to have most of their starters in place, but a few key spots stand out.
Left Tackle
In free agency, the Panthers added former Packer Rasheed Walker to help fortify left tackle after Ickey Ekwonu’s injury. Since then, the team also drafted Georgia OT Monroe Freeling in the first round.
This is probably the most consequential position battle, as the winner will handle protecting Bryce Young’s blindside in a year where the team wants to go back to the playoffs.
**Not only is the left tackle spot in question, but the Panthers will likely have the loser of this battle starting at right tackle in Week 1.
On Tuesday, 7.21, Panthers fans learned that Taylor Moton will miss training camp and the start of the season with blood clots in his lung. Moton has been a steadying presence for close to a decade, so whoever steps up will have big shoes to fill.
For our overall thoughts and potential replacements for Moton in the interim, check out this article**
WR3 and Beyond
After reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and recently-extended Jalen Coker, the receiver corps have no standout players.
Xavier Legette should have the inside track to the WR3 spot, having been on the team the last two seasons. However, fan-favorite Chris Brazzell II brings a vertical speed element that this team lacks.
Both players should see the field often this season, but expect Xavier Legette to have the early lead to start as the third receiver in base 11 personnel.
The bottom of the receiver room will be heavily contested as well. All of David Moore, Brycen Tremayne, Jimmy Horn Jr, and John Metchie III have reasons to make the squad. Preseason and joint practice reps will be important to watch.
Slot/Nickel Defensive Back
On the defensive side of the ball, Carolina has done a good job fortifying areas that needed improvement. Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd should bring the juice in the front seven, but the defensive backfield still has questions.
Nick Scott returns and should be the fellow starting safety alongside Tre’von Moehrig, but the slot corner position is still up for grabs.
Last season, former fifth round pick Chau Smith-Wade started the year in the pole position, but eventually undrafted rookie Corey Thornton took the lead before suffering a season-ending leg injury against San Francisco.
Those two, along with rookie fourth rounder Will Lee III, will compete for the third DB/corner spot. Thornton likely has the early lead, but camp battles are battles for a reason.
With Jaycee Horn suffering a foot laceration prior to camp, there will likely be even more reps to go around for the young corners on the roster.
Center
Another offensive line position that could be contested is the center spot. Both Luke Fortner and Sam Hecht are new additions, and should be able to compete to be the guy that replaces Cade Mays.
Fortner should initially have the inside track to start here, but many draft evaluators had Hecht as someone that could potentially be an early starter in the NFL.
Regardless, it will be good to have two serviceable players at a position that’s been an issue for the past few seasons.
Core Four Teamers
There’s a reason the Panthers were able to sneak into the playoffs last season despite wielding a losing record. Wins along the margins, especially on special teams, can do wonders for a team in close games.
Carolina’s front office agrees with this, and made a concerted effort to bring back multiple key special teams players. Some of those names include LB Isaiah Simmons, EDGE Thomas Incoom, P Sam Martin, CB Akayleb Evans, and LS JJ Jansen.
Bringing back key contributors on kickoff/punt returns/coverages is what a smart team does. The issue for Carolina, however, is that this roster is finally in a position to have high-level specialists at their positions on offense and defense.
It’s hard to hold so many key special teamers when the roster is capped at 53 players.
Adding players like Phillips and Lloyd pushes players down a rung on the pecking order, leading to some of the competition for players who excel on special teams.
Keep an eye on players like Tremayne and Incoom, core four special teams players that can also provide some juice on offense and defense, respectively.
Miscellaneous Thoughts
Camp battles and new play-calling may be the main events of training camp, but there are a few more topics that warrant a bit of discussion before the players pop pads.
Brady Christensen
Last week, Carolina agreed to bring back the versatile OL for another season in the Process Blue. Christensen is coming off of an Achilles injury sustained during Week 8 of last season, but has cleared his rehab stage and is ready to roll.
With the news regarding Taylor Moton’s status, Carolina needs offensive line depth now more than ever. Christensen has played at all five OL positions during his time with the Panthers, and should be ready to fill in for either guard or tackle spot when necessary.
Undrafted Rookie Free Agent Pushes
During both of Dan Morgan’s first two seasons at the helm of the Panthers, the team has ended up keeping multiple undrafted free agents on the main roster.
In 2024, WR Jalen Coker and DB Demani Richardson made the team. Coker has since gotten his big payday.
Last season, LB Bam Martin-Scott, CB Corey Thornton, and K Ryan Fitzgerald all had key contributions for the team. Thornton and Fitzgerald even look to be starters in 2026.
If the trend follows, at least two UDFAs will make the 53-man squad. It’ll be tougher this season, considering the Panthers roster isn’t one of the worst in the league anymore, but there are a few interesting names to keep an eye on.
Duke DL Aaron Hall is probably the most likely to stick around. From all accounts, Hall impressed during the spring camp period, and with Tershawn Wharton out indefinitely with a neck injury, the team needs to add some defensive line depth.
Fellow starter Bobby Brown III will also start training camp on the NFI (non-football injury) list, creating even more reps for Hall.
The other guy that has a fighter’s chance to make the team is former Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. Dave Canales has long intimated wanting a young, developmental backup quarterback option, and King fits that mold.
King also brings size and a rushing ability that could eventually be useful in sub-packages, something that Bryce Young and new backup Kenny Pickett lack.
The retirement of QB3 Will Grier also gives King the inside track to more reps in the preseason. If King is able to impress, Carolina may feel he is worth one of their 53 main contracts.
Joint Practices/Preseason
Preseason game outcomes don’t count for anything in the grand scheme of things, but seeing better performances in the games and joint practices is something both the fans and team wants to see.
Carolina has not had stellar preseason performances over the past few seasons. However, this is the most talented Panthers team since the end of the Rivera/Newton era in the late 2010s.
Joint practices with two playoff teams from last season, along with an extra preseason game, should have this group in better shape heading into the season than they have been over the first years of the Canales/Young era.
In summary, this is one of Carolina’s more important training camps in recent history. Sure, we say this every season, but there are actual expectations now. The Panthers aren’t a bottom three roster anymore.
If the Panthers want to follow up their first postseason appearance in a decade with an equally impressive season, it starts now - in training camp.
So true: "Carolina has not had stellar preseason performances over the past few seasons." I would love, love, love to see them come together as a cohesive, successful group going into the regular season.