Panthers training camp storylines: Young’s growth, Reich’s second chance top the list

Hollywood has already dished out its share of blockbuster films this summer, but the true drama of the season will take place in Spartanburg, S.C. next week.

The Panthers will return to Wofford College for their annual training camp, as head coach Frank Reich hosts his first summer practices at the helm. And while Reich — the first starting quarterback in franchise history — and rookie quarterback Bryce Young — the first overall pick in April’s NFL Draft — will be the talk of the town, the Panthers have several notable storylines worth monitoring during the dozen workouts in the hot summer sun.

For every “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” triumph, there’s a “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” bomb at the box office. The same could be said for training camp, as free-agent additions look to have the success of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” compared to the slogging results of “Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny.” Ultimately, everyone wants to avoid “The Flash” treatment ahead of the Aug. 29 cut-down deadline.

So, as the Panthers get ready for training camp, fans should have their popcorn (and water) ready as they watch the biggest storylines of the summer unfold on the practice field.

Here are the 10 biggest storylines entering Panthers training camp:

1. Has Frank Reich learned from his failures in Indianapolis?

Reich was unceremoniously fired by the Colts midway through last season. He didn’t need to wait too long to be offered a second chance as a head coach though, as the Panthers hired him in January.

Since his arrival in Carolina, Reich has been praised for his leadership and creativity. And while those attributes helped him get back in the saddle with the Panthers, there are still some major questions that Reich needs to answer with results on the field.

Reich never won a division title during his nearly five-year run with the Colts, despite competing in the lowly AFC South. The Panthers haven’t had a winning season since 2017, and Reich was hired to immediately push them into the upper-echelon of the league.

When Andrew Luck retired after Reich’s first season, the head coach had the misfortune of being forced to routinely shuffle quarterbacks throughout his time in Indianapolis. Reich — who is revered as a quarterback guru and offensive mastermind — ultimately failed to find success with a turnstile of veteran retreads. Reich needs to have a quarterback success story in Carolina to keep the “guru” billing that’s been bestowed upon him by notable analysts over the years.

With Young now in place, can Reich right the wrongs of the past through his teaching prowess? Training camp could set up the Reich era to take off like a rocket ship . . . or derail off the tracks like a runaway train.

2. How long will it take for Bryce Young to become the unquestioned face of the franchise?

Young received the entirety of the first-team reps during mandatory minicamp in June. During training camp, that workload isn’t expected to change.

Young will get to face off against his team’s defense every day before challenging the New York Jets at two joint practices in August. He will then guide the offense through three preseason matchups in hopes of cementing himself as the unquestioned leader of the team.

How quickly will Reich anoint Young as his Week 1 starter? The move feels like a formality at this point, as the rush to put the rookie with the first-team group during OTAs essentially wiped away any hint of a slow progression to the top spot.

3. Who will emerge as Young’s top weapon in the passing game?

Young needs a security blanket on offense. While the team brought in veterans like Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Hayden Hurst to handle the bulk of the targets in the passing game, young playmakers like Terrace Marshall and second-round pick Jonathan Mingo could surprise during the summer and step up into big roles.

Young showed impressive chemistry with Thielen, a former All-Pro, during the offseason program. But Reich likes to spread the ball around, and in doing so, another pass-catcher could emerge to develop a long-term partnership with Young. Mingo and Marshall had strong offseason program performances, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to either receiver emerge as a top weapon this year.

4. Who will emerge as the No. 2 pass rusher opposite Brian Burns?

As the Panthers transition to a 3-4 defense, the biggest storyline for the unit has been its edge rusher depth chart.

Burns is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and an ascending talent, but the rest of the group is filled with question marks. The Panthers desperately need to find a tag-team partner for Burns, whether that player is on the roster or still available in free agency.

Marquis Haynes had an excellent offseason , but that success came without live contact. While Haynes is considered the internal favorite for the starting job opposite Burns, the veteran — like the rest of his competition — is a work in progress.

Yetur Gross-Matos, another veteran defender, is also making the transition to outside linebacker, despite his awkward fit at the position. Third-round pick D.J. Johnson is considered a project due to his lack of steady edge experience from his college days.

5. Will Miles Sanders prove that he can be an every-down player?

History has shown that Reich prefers running back rotations. Sanders, coming off his first Pro Bowl season in Philadelphia, has typically played in rotations throughout his career as well.

But Sanders signed with the Panthers to take on the bulk of the work in the backfield this season. And while the rotational history is something to keep in mind, the Panthers see Sanders as a player who can do it all at running back.

If Sanders proves this summer that he is a worthwhile weapon in the passing game — after reuniting with assistant head coach Duce Staley — Carolina should let the playmaker own the backfield for the foreseeable future.

6. Can Jaycee Horn, Donte Jackson and CJ Henderson stay on the field?

Horn (ankle) and Jackson (Achilles) are coming off injuries that sidelined them throughout the bulk of the offseason program workouts in the spring. Henderson also missed some time due to an undisclosed injury.

Over the past two seasons, the Panthers have dealt with several notable injuries in their secondary. The health of Horn, Jackson and Henderson will be crucial to the defense’s success this season, especially with the lack of pass-rushing ammunition upfront.

Horn, who has missed 17 games over the past two seasons, needs to show that he can stay on the field for an entire season.

7. How creative will Carolina be with Frankie Luvu and Jeremy Chinn?

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has gained a reputation for being creative with his personnel groupings. The former defensive backs coach knows how to move pieces around to confuse the opposing offense, which is why he prefers 3-4 fronts.

Luvu and Chinn are a pair of hybrid players that Evero has inherited in Carolina. Luvu has the ability to play inside and outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and that versatility should help Evero disguise blitzes and coverage aspects ahead of the snap.

Chinn, who is labeled as a safety, can also play several positions. He struggled in coverage as a true safety last season, but the Panthers have changed his role this offseason. Chinn will be working as the big nickel corner in sub-packages, and he could see some time at linebacker as well, especially in dime looks.

8. With Austin Corbett sidelined, who will step up at guard?

Corbett is likely to start training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he recovers from ACL surgery. The starting right guard was injured during last season’s finale against the New Orleans Saints, and the team expects him to miss some regular-season action due to the long recovery from knee surgery.

With Corbett shelved for the foreseeable future, the Panthers’ offensive line needs a legitimate replacement. Second-year lineman Cade Mays will get the first shot at the job after impressing last season with limited reps. He could also be pushed by veterans Justin McCray and Michael Jordan. Fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala could also receive some reps at right guard as well.

Brady Christensen, the team’s incumbent left guard, could also see some competition from Zavala as well. The Panthers’ brass has frequently brought up Zavala’s history of playing next to left tackle Ikem Ekwonu during their NC State days. Those repeated comments don’t seem to be without merit.

9. How will the new staff improve the use of the tight end position?

During the offseason program, third-year tight end Tommy Tremble claimed that the new staff had been teaching the tight end position differently than the previous leadership group. According to Tremble, Reich and tight ends coach John Lilly took a hands-on approach to teaching the group how to operate in the passing game — something Tremble said was lacking with the previous staff.

With that new approach, it will be interesting to see how the tight end group elevates the passing game.

Hurst was brought in to be the main pass-catcher at the position, but Tremble and Ian Thomas showed improved route running and catching ability during drills in the offseason program. If all three can contribute across the middle, Young should be set up for success as a rookie.

10. Is this the year that Derrick Brown enters the “elite” category?

Brown has the athletic profile to thrive in the Panthers’ new 3-4 front. The former seventh overall pick has the strength to overpower offensive tackles, and he has the quickness to get past guards in a hurry. The move to defensive end should highlight his strengths as a defensive lineman.

Brown is coming off a strong 2022 season. But 2023 could be the year that Brown finally gets his due on the national level. He should see a major improvement in his sack numbers this season.