From the Panthers’ locker room: Laviska Shenault embraces new role, CB dishes on unique name

With starting running back Miles Sanders battling a shoulder injury, Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault could be asked to handle a bigger workload in the backfield on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Shenault has been used in a dual role of sorts during the first five weeks of the season. Although the 2020 second-round pick is listed as a wide receiver on the team’s website, Shenault has spent a fair share of his time at running back during the first month of the season.

“It’s all the same,” Shenault said about his mentality toward the new role. “I get that ball in my hands — it’s ‘go’ mode. It’s the same ‘Viska every time.”

Sanders, who is off to a lackluster start in his first year in Carolina, didn’t practice on Wednesday. While Chuba Hubbard is likely to become the primary running back in Sanders’ potential absence, Shenault could be asked to pick up the slack at running back as well.

The Panthers have kept Sanders and Hubbard active for all five games this season. But a third named running back has not appeared on the game-day roster since kick returner Raheem Blackshear became a consistent healthy scratch in Week 2. Shenault has essentially filled the No. 3 running back role, while still running routes as a receiver as well.

Shenault is known for being a physical wideout, so the 6-foot-1, 220-pound weapon isn’t afraid to rush between the tackles. He did it at the University of Colorado during his college days and, so far, he’s looked like a natural with his occasional carries in Carolina.

“I’ve always loved being in the backfield,” Shenault said. “It’s just something that’s been natural for me — and I’m not saying I’m the best at it. Being in the league is different. You need to be able to read these defensive linemen and see what’s going on. I’ve been able to get more familiar with that, so it’s helped out a bunch.’’

Even if Sanders were to play against Miami, Shenault would still be likely to see looks in the backfield. Through five games, Shenault has carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and three first downs. He’s also caught four passes for 28 yards.

He enjoys being moved around the formation because it allows him to get more opportunities on the field.

“I think it’s cool, knowing that I can be at any position,” Shenault said. “I like that I’m versatile. The more versatile you are, the more you can do.”

Panthers cornerback explains his unique name

As the Panthers prepare to face off against the high-powered Dolphins, Dicaprio Bootle is getting ready for a homecoming of sorts.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back is a Miami native, and after three standard elevations from the practice squad, Bootle was promoted to the 53-man roster on Monday. That promotion came in time for Bootle to play in his hometown for the first time since high school.

“I’m definitely excited for that,” Bootle said Wednesday. “I’ve got a lot of family that wants to come out and support me, when they couldn’t necessarily come up the road to some of the games. Now, I get to come to them, so I’ll make sure they’re out there and make it a special day for them.”

Bootle — who played 56 snaps on special teams over the past three weeks — previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs. He appeared in seven games over two seasons for the reigning Super Bowl champions before being released this summer.

The Nebraska alum ended up joining the Panthers practice squad following Jaycee Horn’s Week 1 hamstring injury and quickly earned his way onto the game-day roster. Since then, he’s racked up two special teams tackles — tied for most on the team through five weeks — and registered 67% of the season snaps in the third phase.

His promotion to the main roster was a payoff for his hard work to his point.

“Everything I’ve done over the past couple of years, I’ve always been telling myself that I’ve been preparing myself for whatever my next opportunity is,” Bootle said. “And me just being here, and the coaches just accepting me early and being able to push me into a role where I can go out there and showcase my talent — fly around and help the team — you can’t really beat it, honestly.”

Bootle has a unusual first name. But the cornerback, who was born in 1997, has a simple explanation for how his mom and aunt came up with his somewhat familiar-yet-unique moniker.

For those unaware of Leonardo DiCaprio’s rise to fame, Bootle’s birth year coincided with a notable film in the Oscar-winning actor’s exceptional catalog.

“They fell in love with Leo DiCaprio and ‘Titanic’, so yeah, the name stuck, I guess,” Bootle said with a laugh. “And now, here I am.”

While Bootle isn’t a DiCaprio fanatic, he does keep tabs on the actor through social media, as football fans routinely make a connection between the two through their shared names. Bootle appreciated the actor’s turn in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.”

“I don’t know if I’ve got a favorite (DiCaprio movie) — but honestly, I like ‘Django,’ though,” Bootle said. “I like that movie, and I think he did a good job with his role in that movie. So, I guess, maybe that one.”

Draft pick trying to make most of playing time

Outside linebacker DJ Johnson, this year’s third-round pick, had to be patient during the first three weeks of his rookie regular season.

The University of Oregon alum watched from the sideline during losses to the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks, without receiving a single snap on special teams or defense.

However, in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings, Johnson saw work on both phases and performed admirably in his limited work. He was also active in the Week 5 loss to the Detroit Lions as well and registered his first tackle of the season.

Through those two games, Pro Football Focus had Johnson (64.9) graded out better than more experienced pass rusher Justin Houston (57.9) and Amare Barno (53.6) on the season.

And while Johnson is clearly a long-term project for the Panthers, he has viewed the past two games as opportunities to prove himself to his coaches and teammates.

“It’s good to start getting that trust, but it’s always been about (trying to) keep earning it, especially from my own teammates,” Johnson said. “Coaches are definitely important, but when you go out there and your teammates feel comfortable with you, I think that’s like when you know you’re where you need to be and keep growing from there.”

Johnson, who turns 25 later this month, is an older rookie.

He spent four seasons at Oregon — following a transfer from the University of Miami — bouncing back and forth from defense to offense to defense (again). His longer-than-usual college career — with a variety of twists and turns — helped him gain perspective on waiting his turn.

Now, he’s looking to capitalize with a bit of playing time.

“Definitely want to build off that,” Johnson said about his initial playing time. “But that started Week 1 in practice, going against our guys. The confidence and comfort gains every single day, just going against our guys and performing on game day, and just keeping that process consistent.”

Johnson, who has played 19 snaps on special teams, is enjoying playing in the third phase. Like a true defender, he really enjoys the contact of running full speed on kickoff coverage.

“I love the physicality of it,” Johnson said with a beaming smile. “Especially the high-speed combat, it’s always interesting to engage with other guys and see who wants to go with you and who (won’t) — who turns down the smoke and who likes get into it with you.”

Quick hits

▪ Head coach Frank Reich said that safety Xavier Woods is making good progress on his return from a hamstring injury. However, Reich didn’t want to put a timeline on Woods’ return. Woods didn’t participate in practice on Wednesday, and he has missed the past two games.

▪ Running back Tarik Cohen, who is currently on the practice squad, was seen wearing gym clothes on his way to practice on Wednesday. Cohen signed with the practice squad last month. He hasn’t taken a regular-season snap since 2020.

▪ The Dolphins placed running back De’Von Achane on injured reserve with a knee injury on Wednesday. Achane, a 2023 third-round pick, averaged a whopping 12.1 yards per carry on 38 totes this season. He produced 460 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the first five games of the season. He also caught nine passes for 67 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He will miss at least four games on injured reserve, including Sunday’s matchup against the Panthers.

▪ In other Panthers-related injured reserve news, the Indianapolis Colts placed rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson — the fourth overall NFL Draft pick — on injured reserve on Wednesday. Richardson sustained a shoulder injury that will sideline him for at least four weeks, including the Week 9 matchup against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

▪ The Panthers waived cornerback Sam Webb on Tuesday. The former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback joined the 53-man roster last month, but only appeared in the loss to the Lions this past Sunday. Webb played 10 snaps on defense and 12 snaps on special teams against Detroit. With Webb’s departure, the Panthers have one open spot on their 53-man roster.