CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers scrimmaged in front of approximately 40,000 fans at Bank of America Stadium on Friday night in their first appearance on their home turf since losing in the opening round of last season's playoffs.
Injuries continue to be the story of the team's training camp with three other players kept out of the action.
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Casey Washington makes a catch during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik looks on during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Make-a-wish recipient Asher Harvey runs on to the field during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs a route during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Tight end Tommy Tremble, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and linebacker Devin Lloyd all sat out.
Coach Dave Canales said after the scrimmage that Tremble had “general soreness” in his right knee on which he wore a sleeve on Friday night, and Brown and Lloyd were taking their regularly scheduled “veteran days.”
With starting offensive tackle Taylor Moton (blood clot) not participating in training camp and out of action until the regular season, linebacker Nic Scourton and wide receiver Chris Brazzell suffering season-ending knee injuries in the first week of training camp and tight end Mitchell Evans (ankle) carted off the practice field, injuries are a concern.
Canales admitted as much about the tight end group that even led to a signing.
With Brazzell being placed on injured reserve, the Panthers signed free agent tight end Chamon Metayer. A 6-foot-4, 262-pound rookie, Metayer had been in Pittsburgh's training camp after playing collegiately at Cincinnati, Colorado and Arizona State.
Due to injuries to two tight ends, Canales said the team chose not to sign a fourth quarterback in favor or fortifying the tight end position.
“We really felt like that’s a group where the reps could really build up on and we wanted to bring another person in,” said Canales, who said Evans could return to practice “in a couple of days.”
The other tight ends on the roster are Ja’Tavion Sanders, Felipe Franks, James Mitchell and Caden Prieskorn.
In his third year as head coach, Canales guided Carolina last season to an 8-9 regular-season record, an NFC South divisional title and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2017. The Panthers are seeking to win back-to-back divisional titles for the first time since they won three straight from 2013 to 2015.
Carolina opens its four-game preseason slate next Thursday at 8 p.m. in the annual NFL Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The Panthers open their 17-game regular season schedule on Sept. 13 at home against the Chicago Bears.
Canales also said the team, which originally hoped Brazzell would return later this season, decided on season-ending surgery after much consultation.
“Just gathering all of the information and going through our normal process and making sure we get all eyes on it,” Canales said of the decision on Brazzell, a third-round draft pick out of Tennessee. “We have great people in the building and we also have great people around the league and specialists.
“We wanted to make sure we did the right thing for Chris longterm.”
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Casey Washington makes a catch during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik looks on during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Make-a-wish recipient Asher Harvey runs on to the field during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs a route during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up during the NFL football team's fan fest Friday, July 31, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham says she's unconcerned that the rallies against transgender participation in women's sports that have accompanied the Indiana's Fever's recent games are a distraction for the WNBA team.
Cunningham made the comments before the Fever's game Friday night against the Portland Fire. Outside, a group rallied for the second straight game in support of Cunningham and her recent comments about transgender athletes.
“I think at the end of the day, I come in and I do my job,” Cunningham said. "I think everyone who knows me personally, they know that I’m full of love. I’m bubbly. I love the people around me. I love basketball. I love inspiring the next generation and doing that in a positive light. And so that doesn’t even cross my mind. Doesn’t cross my teammates’ minds.
“And again, I’m here to play basketball, but I’m also here to be me, and I’m not gonna like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don’t agree with that.”
Portland's rally came after a similar rally for Cunningham earlier in the week before the Fever's game at the Seattle Storm. Both rallies only attracted about two dozen participants and a bevy of onlookers.
“I have honestly had nothing to do with them,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s people just practicing their rights of freedom of speech and doing what other fans have been doing since the WNBA has started. And so props to them, props to everyone who is able to be competent and be bold and courageous enough to to speak their truths.”
Another rally was planned for Sunday in Minneapolis when the Fever play the Minnesota Lynx.
In Seattle on Tuesday, two Cunningham supporters sat courtside at Climate Change Arena holding signs. A co-owner of the Storm, Celeste Keaton was later fined an undisclosed amount and suspended for five games by the WNBA for an exchange with the two supporters.
The Storm also apologized for the incident, but did not provide details about the exchange, releasing a statement that said: “We remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game.”
The Seattle rally promoted statewide ballot initiative, IL26-638, that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics at Washington schools. It also praised Cunningham, who voiced support for barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in recent interviews.
“I am here to be a cheerleader for Sophie Cunningham, who has so bravely put her head above the parapet to protect women and girls in our sports and in our locker rooms,” said Amy Souza, who was among those at the Portland rally. “I was an organizer of this event, I was a co-organizer of the Seattle event. I’m also here, standing in solidarity with those teen girls who, unfortunately, were harassed when they were just trying to be fans of the sport, fans of Sophie Cunningham.”
Cunningham was booed by the Moda Center crowd in Portland when she entered the game midway though the first quarter. Many waved small pink, blue and white transgender flags.
The Fever downed the Fire 112-98 for their fifth straight win. Cunningham finished with 13 points and Caitlin Clark had her fourth career triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Coach Stephanie White said she was concerned that the controversy was distracting from the team's play.
“You know there is a frustration, of course, because we want to we want to talk about basketball and we want to continue to work on our game and we want to continue to grow as a team.,” White said. “But I also understand this is part of our growth edge as a league, right? It’s part of our growth as a league, and we have to to be able to manage, we have to be able to insulate as much as we can, and then we have to be able to lead with conversation.”
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
People rally to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after her comments on transgender athletes in women's sports before a WNBA basketball game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever in Portland, Ore., Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
People rally to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after her comments on transgender athletes in women's sports before a WNBA basketball game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever in Portland, Ore., Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
A counter protestor, left, raises her arms next to people rallying to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after her comments on transgender athletes in women's sports before a WNBA basketball game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever in Portland, Ore., Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
A man dressed in a frog costume holds a sign supporting trans people during a rally to support Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham after her comments on transgender athletes in women's sports before a WNBA basketball game between the Portland Fire and the Indiana Fever in Portland, Ore., Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, front, runs by a fan holding a sign referencing her comments on transgender athletes and women's sports during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
