It’s been almost a year since Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL during a training camp practice and that was enough time filled with enough rehab that the team felt comfortable giving him the green light for the first practice of this year’s camp.
Benjamin only did individual work during OTAs, but made several catches during team drills on Thursday. While it’s early in the process and Benjamin has rust to knock off, Benjamin’s work made a good impression on head coach Ron Rivera.
“It could be a good harbinger in terms of seeing Kelvin -- I don’t want to say in top form -- but pretty doggone good form,” Rivera said, via the Charlotte Observer. “He’s still got a ways to go in terms of getting in game shape. But it’s really good to see him moving around.”
Benjamin’s loss seemed like a bad harbinger for the Panthers last summer, although things played out in a much better fashion for the eventual NFC champions. Their success in his absence may mean that Benjamin will be targeted less frequently than the 145 throws he saw as a rookie, but his return to health would be a boost to Carolina’s chances at repeating their success from last season.