SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Camp XV in Panthers annals began under sunny skies at Wofford College, but the outlook darkened early in the session when defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu and linebacker
Kemoeatu succumbed to an ankle injury and retreated to the Richardson Center for the remainder of the practice session, while Beason "tweaked" his ankle but remained on the sideline for the rest of the session.
"(Kemoeatu) did something to his ankle," head coach John Fox said, adding that the injury took place when he was running. Fox said that Kemoeatu would be examined by team doctors later Monday.
His fellow first-team tackle,
"I think he'll be okay," Lewis said. "I don't know what's going on, but we're waiting to hear, and we'll just go on from there."
Beason left after the first play of the initial team period of practice, but said he first injured the hamstring during a workout prior to training camp.
"Actually, I tweaked it about a week and a half ago training, and then we treated it and it felt fine," he said. "I should have warmed up a little bit better today. I think I'll go in and get some treatment, and I'll be fine."
"Injuries are part of this game ... As a coach, it's a fine line -- one of the hard things about camp is that you want to get ready to play football, but you've got to make sure you have some guys to play football with. Those things happen. They'll happen all through camp -- just hopefully nothing too serious."
With Kemoeatu and Beason down, rookie defensive tackle Marlon Favorite and second-year linebacker
"(Favorite) came in and did a pretty good job," Lewis said. "It's hard for me to actually see him on the field. I'll know better this afternoon when I'm watching film. But he came in and held his own."
OVERALL, Fox thought the morning practice was "very good," in spite of the usual fits and starts that define the first full-pad practice in nearly eight months.
"It always looks a little sluggish that first day in pads, (because) they haven't carried them all year," Fox said. "But you can tell they've worked, and that's very good for a first day."
SPLIT SECONDS:
... Defensive line coach Brian Baker had praise for defensive end
Defense gets the better of this collision, as
... Big hits abounded during open-field, seven-on-seven drills, as Na'il Diggs and
... Rookie running back
... Favorite and fellow undrafted rookie
... Rookie
... Cornerback
... Practice closed with work on punt protection. Wide receivers
ROARS* OF THE DAY:
* Because I'm not the only one who deplores the word "tweet." Beason, himself a Twitterer (or whatever it is) wants to find another term, as well, saying, "What are you, 'Tweeting'? I mean, it doesn't even sound cool."
9:28 A.M. EDT: Ron Meeks is running a drill where an entire 11-man defense runs onto the field, screaming, before sprinting to the corner of the end zone.
9:36 A.M. EDT: DL coach Brian Baker implores his men to "play fast" in a drill, then after Peppers takes a good turn, yells, "That's exactly what I want!"
9:59 A.M. EDT: Mike Goodson drawing oohs for a quick cut he made in a RB-vs.-LB receiving drill ... dude can move.
12:30 P.M. EDT: FYI, #MarlonFavorite: An engaging, friendly fellow. Always seems to have a smile on his face, even when he's working hard on the field.
For more, follow along at Twitter.com/cpanthers.
SNAPSHOTS:
Close, but no cigar ... Larry Beavers's best effort wasn't enough to reel in this pass.
After making a grab in the open field, Mike Goodson spun out of Beason's grasp and pulled away ...
... but later in the morning practice,
Fullback
