New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers bounced back from a slow start to lead a successful touchdown drive in a two-minute drill, while the Carolina Panthers managed to avoid two major injuries during a heated joint practice on Thursday.
Rodgers had a rough beginning, throwing two interceptions, but he found his rhythm during the Jets’ final offensive drive. He completed three passes and drew a defensive pass interference penalty on a deep throw to Garrett Wilson. Rodgers finished the drive with a short touchdown pass to Wilson.
“We started slow, which can’t happen, but you have to find a way to bounce back and finish strong, and I think we did that,” Wilson said. He was targeted three times during the touchdown drive. “I feel like we got better today.”
The Panthers faced a scare when guard Robert Hunt, who joined Carolina from Miami on a five-year, $100 million deal, seemed to injure his knee early in practice and was carted off the field. However, Hunt returned to complete practice.
Later, Panthers starting running back Chuba Hubbard was hit hard by Jets safety Chuck Clark after slipping on the grass. Hubbard stayed on the field for several minutes holding his knee, but he did not return to practice.
“We had big concerns when Chuba went down, but the initial testing was pretty good,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales. “So they are going to follow up there.” Meanwhile, Miles Sanders and Mike Boone got more playing time at running back after Hubbard’s injury.
The practice became heated during 11-on-11 drills. Panthers wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., fighting for a roster spot, caught a touchdown pass and celebrated by dropping the ball on the head of Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, who was on the ground.
This led to a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and a shoving match between the Panthers and Jets.
As coaches stepped in to break up the fight, Reed got up, picked up the football, and threw it at a Carolina player’s back, earning another penalty.
There were also two other brief scuffles before the two-hour practice ended.
“It’s dumb football,” Canales said about Marshall’s penalty. “We can’t have that. We want to celebrate with each other and make big plays without giving the opponent anything.
This is exactly the kind of thing I’ve been addressing, especially going into this practice. He made a great play on a great player, but (he needs to) leave it at that.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh spoke to reporters before practice but was not available afterward. Marshall said he got caught up in the excitement.
“That’s not my character,” Marshall said. “I give everything on the field, but I definitely wouldn’t do that in a game. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt the team.”
Rodgers, who did not speak to reporters after practice, completed all four of his passes on the final drive, quickly moving the Jets down the field with help from the defensive pass interference penalty on cornerback D’Shawn Jamison.
“Aaron is one of the best ever in that situation,” Wilson said. “(Number) eight makes it pretty easy out there with two-minute drills. He has a great process, and it’s our job (as receivers) to be on our details.”
Panthers second-year quarterback Bryce Young performed well after throwing two interceptions in Wednesday’s practice.
“Today he came out sharp, getting us in and out of the huddle and being accurate. That’s Bryce,” Canales said. “When he faces challenges and the stakes rise, he stays the same and remains accurate. I love how he handled today.”
The teams will face each other in a preseason game on Saturday night. Neither coach would say if they plan to play their starters.
