Mason's Minutes: School begins with Harris, Beason back on field

Linebacker was all smiles Wednesday -- understandably so, since he was back at work for the first time since shoulder surgery. (PHOTO: ANDREW MASON / PANTHERS.COM)

POSTED AT 12:10 P.M. EDT; UPDATED AT 4:51 P.M. EDT

CHARLOTTE -- Summer school was in session for the Panthers on Wednesday morning, and safety Chris Harris and middle linebacker Jon Beason were back in class.

Both went through practice for the first time since each underwent postseason shoulder surgery, and found themselves sprinting to catch up -- both physically and mentally for their first on-field work since the winter.

"I'm a little tired," acknowledged Beason as he left the practice field. "But that's to be expected. I got a little sweat, so I feel good."

"Actually getting your body back used to everything, I was a little tired," Harris added. "The range of motion (in the shoulder) is pretty much there; it's just getting the strength back in it."

Both Harris and Beason were still able to continue their lower-body strength work over the offseason, although Beason noted that he couldn't do squats in the weight room as he would have liked.

"Squatting's big for me, and I couldn't do any of that, so I feel a little weak in my legs," Beason said. "But I was able to do all the conditioning, work the abs and rehab the shoulder. So I feel pretty good."

The work they could do the last two months helped them keep up with their teammates in offseason conditioning, which further prepared them for Wednesday morning's session.

"We are always looking for smart, tough, better-conditioned guys, and I think in that time even since minicamp guys have been hard at work in our offseason conditioning program and have been through their testing," head coach John Fox said. "I think we had some good performances there in the testing. They came back ready to go today in great shape."

BOTH BEASON AND HARRIS were duly diligent in studying the new scheme implemented by defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, but found that knowing their tasks and terminology was different than putting it into practice.

"We can go into meetings and do all the chalk talk we want," Beason said. "But being out here (on the field) is the only way you're going to get better."

Even if it was a little like starting from scratch.

"I kind of feel like a rookie all over again," Beason said. "But obviously the pressure isn't there, so the transition's going to be easy. The terminology is different, but it's all the same stuff; cover-three is cover-three everywhere.

Added Harris: "This is kind of (similar) to the scheme we ran in Chicago when I was there, so I don't have that big of a learning curve."

ALSO OF NOTE:

• Running back DeAngelo Williams returned to on-field work after being sidelined during minicamp. Fellow running back Jonathan Stewart was on the field, but did not take part in team drills ...

Diggs

• Strongside linebacker Na'il Diggs (shown above with linebackers coach Richard Smith) returned to action; he was also consigned to the sidelines at minicamp ...

• Rookie running back Mike Goodson was back on the field after missing the last two days of minicamp, earning praise from Williams for his work ...

Rosario

• Like Stewart, wide receiver Ryne Robinson and tight end Dante Rosario (above) were present, but did not practice ...

• The summer heat that struck during last year's summer school has yet to arrive at Bank of America Stadium. While the humidity for the morning's work was high -- with rain falling for a few minutes as the Panthers began assembling on the field -- the temperature remained between 71 and 74 degrees.

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Baker
Defensive line coach Brian Baker barks out instructions to his linemen early in the session.