Panthers name four captains for 2024, including Bryce Young, two veteran defenders

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The Carolina Panthers will have four captains for the 2024 NFL season.

On Wednesday, head coach Dave Canales announced quarterback Bryce Young, defensive end Derrick Brown, inside linebacker Shaq Thompson, and safety/special teams ace Sam Franklin as his captains.

“The people spoke,” Canales said with a big smile. “And there were a lot of votes for both guys (on defense), and I just said, ‘Great, that’s exactly what we want, for guys to identify that leadership, for people to stand for what we’re about here, our play style, playing with great effort, great enthusiasm, toughness, playing smart and finishing.’

“We want guys who finish everything they do. And so I love that they chose the guys they did because they really exemplify what they’re looking for in our team.”

Young is a captain for a second consecutive year. The starting QB has earned the respect of his teammates with his play and poise in Year 2 after a disappointing rookie season. Young will lead the offense once again with a “C” on his jersey.

Brown is a first-time captain for the Panthers. The giant defensive lineman was a first-time Pro Bowl selection last year. He signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension in the offseason.

Thompson is now a five-time captain. The 2015 first-round pick wasn’t voted a captain last season, but after missing all but two games last year, he is back in a leadership spot. Thompson is entering the final year of his contract.

Franklin, who is on injured reserve with a broken foot, has been the team’s top special teams ace for three seasons. He has re-signed with team on 1-year deals in back-to-back offseasons.

With Franklin sidelined, the plan is for a weekly fourth captain to be named based on work ethic, production and practice performance.

“Looking for those guys to really make a statement for us, to be able to represent us at the beginning of the game,” Canales said.

Injury update: Latest on Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas

Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas — listed as the top two tight ends on the team’s “unofficial” depth chart in Week 1 — were not in pads on Wednesday. Tremble was on the field, but he didn’t take part in individual drills as he held a football throughout the media-viewing portion of practice.

Tremble re-injured his hamstring during the final week of preseason. The Panthers also noted on the injury report that Tremble has a back ailment that he’s dealing with. Thomas was sidelined with a calf injury throughout the majority of training camp.

Following the workout, Tremble and Thomas received “did not participate” statuses.

Running back Miles Sanders (finger) and offensive tackle Yosh Nijman (knee) were listed as limited participants.

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who missed Monday’s practice with an illness, did take part in drills on the field. Clowney is easily the team’s top edge defender heading into Week 1. His status for Week 1 received a boost — at least from the outside looking in — when the team released veteran K’Lavon Chaisson on Tuesday.

Below is the Panthers’ complete status report for Wednesday:

DNP: TE Tommy Tremble (hamstring), TE Ian Thomas (calf)

Limited: RB Miles Sanders (finger), OT Yosh Nijman (tibia)

Quick hits

▪ The Panthers officially signed former Green Bay Packers tight end Messiah Swinson to their 53-man roster on Wednesday. The undrafted rookie from Arizona State is listed as 6-7 and 259 pounds. With Thomas and Tremble both nursing injuries, Swinson could serve as insurance and special teams depth over the next few weeks behind Jordan Matthews and Ja’Tavion Sanders.

Swinson will wear No. 85.

▪ Canales on Chaisson’s release: “Yeah, K’Lavon, I thought he had a really good role that he was starting to develop for himself, in terms of special teams, and we were looking for somebody to be a dynamic game-changer as far as the pass rush. And we added some people to our roster and to our practice squad that we’d love to take a look at to see if they can give us that spark we’re looking for.”

▪ Canales on the youth at outside linebacker (D.J. Johnson, Eku Leota and Jamie Sheriff) opposite Jadeveon Clowney: ”Play them early and see what what we got there. That’s been something that’s kinda ingrained in my DNA — is let’s get information about the players. Let’s not be afraid to play young guys on the offensive or defensive side. Let’s get them out there, they will learn the football. We will all be better for it when we get into Week 6, 7. And you go to the finish of the season, the more you play these guys early on, we can get them game ready — but can’t be afraid to expose them to that, and we’ve got to live with some of the lumps.”

▪ Follow Observer reporters Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) and Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05), and columnist Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler), on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the Panthers’ latest news.