CHARLOTTE — The Panthers went a little later in the afternoon for practice on Wednesday, though that was part of their scheduled plan and not a desire to get a little more heat.

Because, as has been the case most of the preseason, there wasn't that much heat to get acclimated to.

The Panthers took several steps this offseason to prepare for the hot and humid conditions in Jacksonville for the regular season opener, including a joint practice in Houston. However, the conditions back home have remained cool since the first week of training camp.

Most of Wednesday was spent in the 70s, and it crept into the low 80s, but nothing like normal for this time of year. And with temperatures expected in the low 90s with the usual humidity in Jacksonville on Sunday, it's hard to prepare for.

"I just think it's conditioning," Canales said. "There's really no way to replicate that unless we just, you know, get blessed with a hot day tomorrow. It's been amazing. It's been gorgeous here, and we've been in the low to mid 70s, but I think it's just the tempo that you practice with, making sure we're getting the work and the conditioning, the strength work in the weight room, all those things. Once your conditioning level is at a point, then you've just got to deal with the heat. It's no different than the cold, you know, you can't really prepare for, you know, being in different situations."

Canales recalled a 2015 Seahawks playoff trip to Minnesota for a playoff game, and it was negative-19 with wind chill.

"We couldn't make that happen in Seattle; it was in the upper 40s. So you just kind of rely on your execution, you rely on your conditioning, and then you deal with the elements, you deal with it just like any external factor."

Good news for the names not on the injury report

The Panthers made it through training camp relatively healthy, a feat to be celebrated and wood knocked upon. The law of averages ensures there will be bumps, bruises, and hampering injuries throughout the season. Wednesday was a reminder of that, as the Panthers kicked off their work for Week 1 with some guys sidelined with various aliments, four of them showing up on the first injury report.

But notable were some of the names that didn't appear on the report, including Nic Scourton and Tommy Tremble.

Scourton missed time after a collapsed lung in Houston, but wasn't on the report, and Tremble looks like his old self again. After spending much of the offseason recovering from a back surgery, Canales says the veteran is ready to go for Sunday.

"Tommy's ready to rock, had a really great practice today," Canales said. "He feels great. He's said that as much."

Tershawn Wharton always wanted to be No. 99

Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton was one of the players who changed jersey numbers since training camp, handing in his old 92 for a fresh 99.

Wharton always wore 98 in Kansas City, but he said he wanted to wear 99 then, but it was taken by teammate Khalen Saunders at the time.

"When I went to KC, somebody had it already, so I went 98 because that was the year I was born, but 99's always been my number," he said. "Warren Sapp, Aaron Donald, and JJ Watt, those were my guys that I used to look up to."

With 92 vacated, rookie defensive tackle Cam Jackson was eager to trade in his old 55, and laughed as he sat next to Wharton that it was an easy choice for him.

"No, not really," Jackson joked.

Jackson wore 99 at Florida, but he's going to have to wait for a chance at that one, so settling for Wharton's old number isn't a bad alternative.

Dreaming big at every age

The media workroom was full on Wednesday, a sign of an ascending team heading into Week 1, with reporters lining the walls just to find a spot. But front and center was a certain reporter who couldn't help but stand out just for how small he was compared to everyone else.

It was Atlas, a 10-year--old reporter with WBTV, and he had a question for the Canales.

"Why is it important to know that kids like me can connect with the head coach and the Panthers?" Atlas asked with a clear and strong voice.

"It's about having a dream," Canales beamed in response. "If your dream's not big enough that it doesn't scare you, your dream's not big enough and I think you're sitting here right now being able to ask me questions right here in this room this is amazing."

After finding out that Atlas is just 10, the coach commended him for finding a passion and knowing what it takes to chase it as such a young age, as well as offering some encouragement for the times ahead.

"I just remember falling in love with football when I was about 12 years old and I just couldn't get enough of it and so you know, as you have this opportunity and you keep envisioning yourself doing this for a living, I think that dreams are what pull us through hard times and we'll do whatever works necessary to get there."

It's a poignant reminder and lesson, no matter the age.