CHARLOTTE -- Setting the scene at Bank of America Stadium, where the New England Patriots visit the Carolina Panthers in preseason action (7:30 p.m. ET):
Weather conditions. It is a beautiful night for football, with temperatures expected to be in the high-70s or low-80s by kickoff. There is no precipitation in the forecast. Winds are light.
Wayne is first Patriot on the field. Veteran receiver Reggie Wayne was the first Patriots player to take the field for warm-ups. In a reminder of the longevity of his 15-year career, he paused for a moment to chat with Panthers receivers coach Ricky Proehl, who played from 1990-2006 and was a teammate of Wayne's in Indianapolis that final season. This is Proehl's fifth season as an assistant in Carolina.
Brady a top storyline. One of the top storylines for the Patriots on Friday is trying to get quarterback Tom Brady some positive momentum heading into the regular season. Brady has played 16 snaps in the first two preseason games and has been part of four drives that were three-and-outs. It hasn't all been on Brady, of course, but one internal point of emphasis has been focusing on a faster start.
Who isn't expected to play. Here's a look at players aren't expected to play because of injury or rehabilitation. Meanwhile, there is a group of players that includes receiver Julian Edelman, linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Jerod Mayo and tight end Rob Gronkowski who could still be held out as a precaution.
Scouts in the house. Representatives from the personnel staffs of the Buccaneers, Texans, Steelers, Giants, Redskins and Jaguars are scheduled to be in attendance tonight. It is common to see scouts from various teams throughout the first three preseason games.
Bequette clears waivers, reverts to IR. Defensive end-turned-tight end Jake Bequette, a 2012 third-round draft choice out of Arkansas, cleared waivers Friday and reverted to the team's injured reserve list. He's under contract for 2016.
Blakeman gets the call. Clete Blakeman has been assigned as referee for Friday's game. Blakeman was the referee for the 2013 Patriots-Panthers game on Monday Night Football in which he called a late defensive pass interference penalty on a play involving Gronkowski.
Photo: View from the press box at Bank of America Stadium -- #Patriots at #Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET). pic.twitter.com/qssWLVAPiu
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 28, 2015