It might only be two days, but the Panthers will take an unexpected bit of good news.
According to Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, Panthers first-rounder Shaq Thompson is scheduled to be back in Charlotte in time to catch the last two days of OTAs this week, after they previously thought he wouldn’t report until Friday. He’s flying in tonight, and barring travel difficulties, he’ll be on the field tomorrow.
He’s been unable to make it since he’s one of the unlucky quarter-system players who are annually inconvenienced by an archaic rule, but the Panthers have kept him up to speed as well as they can.
“I know [linebackers coach Al Holcolmb] has been sending him the stuff on the iPad and they conference call. Whatever they’re allowed to do. They’ll go through those things in installation,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “Shaq will call him at all hours of the day asking questions. The thing Shaq has to remember is when it’s 9 there; it’s midnight here.”
While it might only be two days, the Panthers will need the time, as Thompson’s converting from college hybrid safety-running back to full-time linebacker, so the installation is important.