Comments from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox following the team's morning training camp practice.
On injuries: Louis Leonard and Duke Robinson are off the PUP and back at practice. Thomas Davis (PUP - knee), Mike Goodson (ankle), Nick Hayden (side), Richard Marshall (back spasms), Charly Martin (finger), Eric Moore (hamstring), Jeff Otah (PUP - knee), Steve Smith (PUP - arm), Jonathan Stewart (PUP - ankle), Tyrell Sutton (calf) and Marcus Walker (calf).
On how guard Duke Robinson did in his first practice after coming off the physically unable to perform list: Not bad. He's off the PUP and back out practicing and he's got some catching up to do.
On defensive tackle Louis Leonard's return to the active roster from the physically unable to perform list: He was a little questionable with a knee (injury) early on, so we started him a little bit late. But he looks pretty fresh and capable right now. It was just one practice and it happened to be a non-padded practice, so we'll see this evening how it goes.
On how injuries affect reps in practice: We came in short because we had six guys on PUP before we even had a practice. But that's typical this time of year with many teams. Our guys have managed well, and we've had a couple of guys go down since, and we're getting guys back on and off - typical of training camp.
On injuries providing opportunities for other players: No doubt. The younger guys are getting more reps there is no question. But you've got to be careful of getting them too many reps and then they start to wear down. It's very common this time of year in training camp around the National Football League.
On how injuries have affected the depth at running back: We are a little light there right now and we'll make some kind of adjustment.
On the progress of fullback Tony Fiammetta: Good. He's had to take some reps not just at fullback - his normal position - but he's also getting some reps at tailback, which he is capable of. He is a good runner with the football as well as a blocker.
On Fiammetta's improvement since his rookie season last year: A lot of growth. I think everybody does that, regardless of position, and he's a lot more comfortable. He sat behind maybe one of the better guys as far as knowing what to do in Brad Hoover. He got to watch him for a year. We actually saw him grow last year throughout practices.
On why it takes longer to adjust to the fullback position more than others in the NFL: We lean on the running game quite a bit, and there are some nuances of the fullback position in the type of running game we have that takes a pretty instinctive guy to figure out when to wrap back, when not to and where to go without getting into too much specifics. It is a mental position as well as a physical position.
On how rookie Armanti Edwards is making the transition from playing quarterback in college to playing wide receiver in the NFL: He's got a lot more running. He's getting a little bit more used to that as we move forward. He's got good hands and good ability after the catch. I think if you asked him he would tell you it's a lot more running than at quarterback.
On rookie wide receiver Brandon LaFell: The number one thing we saw early on is he looks like he belongs. He's got the size and abilities, physically, to do the things you want a Z receiver to do. He's picked things up pretty well and so far, so good.
On rookie wide receiver Trent Guy's quickness: He's a guy that flashed to a lot of the coaches in the offseason stuff and he's continued that here at this camp.
On if this group of quarterbacks has the best arm strength of any that he has ever had in training camp: That's really hard. Like any other position, whether you're big, at the end of the day you've got to have a skill set to play a position. Those guys are young, and all these experiences out here, even though they are simulated of games, are real important. It's a capable bunch, no question, but we've still got a ways to go.
On defensive tackle Tank Tyler: Good. He's a strong a guy. Like everybody out here, it's been a year since they've been in pads. So you're taking that opportunity to develop those techniques, and it's still early.
