CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Saturday morning the Carolina Panthers practice was supposed to be a planned scrimmage that head coach Matt Rhule was going to treat like a preseason game.
However, the Panthers never hit the practice field and instead held a team meeting. According to multiple reports the meeting focused on social justice issues.
Following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, nine NFL teams canceled practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The Panthers stuck with their schedule and on Wednesday night held a practice that aired throughout the region on TV. Coach Rhule commented on his team’s decision to practice that night.
“They want to do something impactful here moving forward,” said Rhule, “And come together and make a change, because something has to change.” “I listened today, but it’s time to take action as well.”
On Friday, new Panthers defensive tackle Zach Kerr spoke about what the team was thinking.
βI do want people to realize that we are trying and we do care, just give us some time, because weβve got a lot of stuff on our plates that weβre trying to figure out behind closed doors,β said Kerr.
The Panthers are already scheduled to have Sunday off.
