Carolina Panthers: Morning Practice Wrap-Up

As expected, Julius Peppers showed up for the Panthers first day of training camp after missing all of Carolina's OTA practices. He didn't miss a beat, handling offensive tackle Jordan Gross with relative ease during pass-rushing drills.

"It's fair to say Pep has always been in good shape. He looked the same to me...He has come in well-conditioned and I expected that," coach John Fox said.

Peppers and rookie defensive end Everette Brown have hit it off nicely. Pep has been mentoring Brown during the first practice, and they seem to be hitting it off as well as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart did last season.

As expected on the first day of any training camp, injuries would loom. The Panthers were not exempt from suffering a couple of their own, and to two major players.

Early in the day, defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu went down with a rolled ankle. It is hoped to be a minor injury at this point and could sit him out for up to two weeks depending on the extent and severity of the injury.

In Kemo's place, undrafted rookie Marlon Favorite out of LSU, is now working with the starters.

Around the same time, middle linebacker Jon Beason suffered what seems to be a pulled hamstring, and in all likelihood, he will probably be listed as day-to-day and will miss a couple of practices. He was given ice by the trainers to put on the area and then had it taped up.

Second-year linebacker Dan Connor replaced Beason with the first stringers.

Nothing to be worried about though, as these injuries do occur. No injury is "good," but generally hamstrings, knees, and ankles get a little banged up the first few days. The bad injuries are of the tendon and bone variety.

The Panthers will hold their next practice this evening at 6:40 p.m. Check back for more updates this evening.