CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five observations as the Carolina Panthers began Phase 3 of offseason workouts Tuesday:
Missing in action: Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, kicker Graham Gano and defensive tackle Paul Soliai were excused to handle personal issues at home. Benjamin was the most noteworthy since he is coming off a torn ACL that ended his 2015 season in training camp. The rehab is going well and he is expected to be back with the other two this week as practice continues. According to this tweet, Benjamin was at his home in Belle Glade, Florida.
Glades Central alum, former #FSU #Noles WR and NFL'er Kelvin Benjamin at the spring game tonight. pic.twitter.com/HLU97s8sS0
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) May 23, 2016
Back in action: Wide receiver Stephen Hill, who also suffered a season-ending ACL tear in camp last year, participated in a limited number of drills wearing a brace. The Panthers are hoping he emerges and reaches the expectations the New York Jets had when they made him a second-round pick in 2012. At 6-foot-4, pairing Hill with the 6-5 Benjamin and 6-4 Devin Funchess gives Carolina a big lineup of receivers.
Cornering the market: Rookie James Bradberry started on the left side in all team drills, with veteran Robert McClain the right side starter for most of team drills. Rookie Daryl Worley and Lou Young also got some first-team snaps. What can you read into this? Probably not much other than Bradberry, a second-round pick out of Samford, is ahead of the other two corners drafted. Bene’ Benwikere, coming off a season-ending leg fracture, is expected to start at one outside corner spot. He was on the field but not a participant in team drills. Coach Ron Rivera said he won’t begin firming up his starters at corner with 2015 Pro Bowl selection Josh Norman gone until training camp.
No Shaq: Outside linebacker Shaq Thompson had a big pick of a Cam Newton pass, but he declined to stop and talk for interviews. Thompson was cited for crossing the center line in a head-on collision with former Duke quarterback Anthony Boone on Sunday. Thompson was not injured, but Boone was hospitalized with what police believed to be a broken pelvis and fractured ribs. The car Thompson was driving received $35,000 in damages, according to the accident report. It was a loan from Hendrick Chevrolet while his car was being repaired. Rivera said the issue was closed as far as the team is concerned.
No problem: First-round pick Vernon Butler limped off early in practice but returned after trainer Ryan Vermillion checked out the knee of the huge defensive tackle from Louisiana Tech. Rivera even commented that Butler did some nice things after he got back.
