CHARLOTTE — The Panthers invested around $150 million worth of contracts on the first day of free agency in 2024 to acquire Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis.

And on Wednesday, they were in the same place at the same time for a change.

Lewis was back on the practice field after missing last week's game with a shoulder injury, and Hunt returned to doing his rehab work on the practice field, his first appearance out there since he tore a biceps tendon in Week 2 against the Cardinals.

Hunt has been a fixture around the building and on the sideline during games. He remains on injured reserve, and will be for some time, but for the first time, Canales suggested that the Pro Bowl guard could potentially return this season.

"Yeah, he's coming along. They say he's ahead of schedule, I think we get told that a lot, but our guys really push it," Canales said when asked about Hunt. "And I've noticed over the years the guys that believe that they heal fast end up healing fast, and that just puts you in a positive mindset to be able to get after your rehab, push the envelope and say, hey, we had this prescribed for you today. Can I do a little bit more? Is this good enough? Can we stop here?

"David Moore is another one, who's really attacking his rehab and, both guys are really in there pushing it, and each other, but it was good to have Rob on the grass, moving around and they're working on all the range of motion stuff so we'll see where we're at you know I think it's timeline is somewhere around the bye week so that could be something down the road."

A torn biceps is generally a 12-week recovery, and that injury has knocked Panthers linemen out for the entire season before. Brady Christensen did his in Week 1 of 2023 and didn't return, while Austin Corbett was in Week 5 last year and didn't play again.

But even if it's a matter of opening the practice window for Hunt, that would be a big boost. The Panthers have used six combinations of starting offensive linemen in seven games, and they're third in the league in rushing and eighth in sacks allowed per pass play. In years past, that kind of disruption has marked disaster, as in 2023 when they used seven different left guards and eight different right guards, and allowed 65 sacks on the season.

Lewis is obviously closer to being a factor again, after missing last week with the shoulder injury early in Thursday's practice. Canales said tomorrow's practice in pads will be telling.

"It's great to see him out there, get some individuals, pop in and out of the team periods and get some reps," Canales said of Lewis. "And just gain the confidence he needs, to feel good, to be able to go on Sunday.

"So tomorrow will be a more physical practice with the pads, and we'll be able to expose him to some of that and see how he comes out of that one."

Christensen has settled into the starting lineup at right guard, while Corbett returned from his stint on IR last week to start for Lewis, who was the last lineman to start every game on the season.

QB decision will be based on Bryce Young's health alone

Canales pointed to the stability around the quarterback position as a reason they could succeed if Andy Dalton needed to play this week, since everything is more stable than last year, when he took over in Week 3 and stayed in the lineup until he was in a car crash, and Bryce Young went back into the lineup in Denver in Week 8.

"I think it's a collective thing," Canales said. "It's about our processes, how we handle the work week, and those rhythms are very familiar to our players now, going into our second year. That part allows us to lay the foundation for fundamental improvement and execution.

"If Andy does have to play, have full confidence being able to just call the game the same way I would normally call it and have the balance and be attacking and aggressive in our spots. So he gives us an opportunity to keep pushing our football forward, which I love."

When asked if that gave him the luxury of time to make a decision, Canales said it would only be based on Young's health.

"If Bryce is ready to go, he's going to go, and the rest of the factors, like they all want Bryce to go, Andy included," Canales said. "While he would love to get out there and play, he's chomping at the bit. At this point in his career, he's like, any chance I get to get out there, whether it's finishing a game or going into a game, he's got a lot of gratitude about the opportunity potentially.

"But we've got to do what's best for Bryce first and foremost, and we'll go from there."

Taking a look at new QB Mike White

Canales said they wanted to bring another quarterback in this week, given the uncertainty with Young, who did not practice on Wednesday because of his ankle sprain suffered Sunday in New York.

So they signed veteran Mike White to the practice squad, adding another option along with Hendon Hooker and a guy who spent last year and the most recent offseason with Buffalo.

"Really fluid throwing motion, a guy that's got experience has played some pretty important games over the course of his career, so the experience is a great thing," Canales said of White. "Heard a lot of great stuff about him, his reputation preceded him coming this way, and he was interested in coming and being here in case we get to a situation where we might need him long term, and so just good to be able to get my eyes on him for the first time. And also, he's got a little Bills background too, so just trying to compete in any which way we can.

Asked if they were going to try to mine him for any potential edges against his former employer, Canales grinned.

"We should try," Canales said. "Our defensive staff, myself included, just talking to him about things he might have seen here and there. There's no secret code involved here. He's a Panther right now and so, trying to compete, trying to get as much info as we can."

Jaycee Horn's play and commitment continue to push Panthers

As a former receiver and longtime receivers coach, Canales has a little advice for Jaycee Horn and his propensity to make one-handed grabs.

"I try to tell guys two hands for beginners," joked Canales. "He doesn't have a lot of catches in his pro career."

Whether it's one-handed, two-handed, or if Horn goes out there with a butterfly net, it's hard to argue with the results of late. The corner has three interceptions this season, tied for third in the league through seven weeks. Two of those three have been palmed with one hand, a by-product of Horn working through training camp with one hand wrapped as he healed from a car wreck.

And two of his three picks came on Sunday, in the most crucial of times; to save a would-be touchdown, and to take the ball away from the Jets offense the second to last time in what finished as a 13-6 Panthers' win.

"He came up with the catch and secured the ball. That's what we cared about and gave us a chance to put it away, in that one," Canales praised.

Horn is coming off a contract extension and his first Pro Bowl selection after the 2024 season. Through seven games this season, he's continued to grow, improve his game, and demand more from his teammates in the process.

"Just a really incredible competitor," said Canales. "The way that Jaycee approaches every game day—and, I mean this isn't public knowledge, but he went into the Patriots game (Week 4) pretty sick and he had to get some fluids and overcome that part and I talked to him afterwards and he played his butt off in that game and - didn't find out about that until afterwards.

"He just kind of said, 'My dad called me and said, look, nobody cares you're sick, they're going to try to go after you regardless. You've got to go out there and play.' And he just, he brings that mentality every week, to challenge everything he wants to be at the point of attack. He wants quarterbacks to try him and to get him those targets, and he came up with two big plays."

In addition to his three interceptions, Horn also has 10 tackles, and is in the Top 10 for fewest targets thrown his way (amongst qualifying corners) as quarterbacks look to avoid him. And when they do, he makes them pay.

"I think it just speaks to the whole collection of the athlete," said Canales. "The brain, the competitor, and then his ability to track the ball like a receiver, you know, it's really incredible catches on both of those to get his eyes around, on the first interception to really accelerate where you could see his top speed, getting in phase and then coming down with the really hard catch."