After sorting themselves out from this past weekend’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, the Carolina Panthers returned to the practice field on Monday.

Here are the top takeaways and observations from the latest outing of training camp . . .

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Center secured

The Panthers put a cap on one of the biggest position battles of the summer, naming Austin Corbett their starting center for 2025.

Head coach Dave Canales explained the choice to reporters.

“We decided to make that decision knowing that this week, going to Houston with the joint practice and then having the game, we felt like those reps just kinda solidifying who’s the starting center gonna be with Bryce [Young],” he said after practice. “It’s a good time to kinda transition to where he’s getting more of those reps versus splitting them day after day.

“It was really close. I’ll be honest. I thought Cade [Mays] did a fantastic job—orchestrating the group when he was out there, getting his snaps off on time, moving people in the run game, anchoring the pass. It was a really close competition and I think Corbett just kinda brings a level of leadership that kinda just edged him out.”

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After serving as the starting right guard in his first two seasons for the Panthers, Corbett made the switch to center ahead of the 2024 campaign. But his season would be cut short due to biceps injury he sustained in Week 5.

Mays then went on to start at center in eight of Carolina’s final nine games.

A surprise bubble candidate?

Between a strong offering in Friday’s exhibition contest and a sparkling showing on the practice field this morning, wideout Jalen Coker has recently commanded quite a bit of attention. Nonetheless, Canales was asked if the second-year receiver could be on the roster bubble given the stiff competition in the room.

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“Hopefully, up to now, we’re gonna play the best guys, and the guys that we can count on, the guys that make plays, the guys that make the catch,” Canales stated. “And Jalen, he’s open in space. He plays strong to the ball. He had two really amazing plays and a go-ball where he went up over [JaTravis] Broughton and kinda took it off of his shoulder, finished on his feet and ran the ball into the end zone. He keeps showing us like that, he’s gonna be on the field playing. There’s no doubt about it.”

Coker showed them that in the preseason opener, where he reeled in a 5-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Bryce Young. He followed that up with a pair of phenomenal catches on Monday, including a would-be 45-yard score.

Another standout

Cornerback Corey Thornton has also heated up this summer.

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Wide receiver Xavier Legette was asked to name a defender who has impressed him in training camp, and didn’t hesitate to praise the undrafted rookie.

“He been doin’ his thing,” Legette said. “Every time I go up against him, I tell him, ‘I like what you’re doin’.’ And sometimes, he’ll try to be like, ‘Hey, my bad.’ I’m like, ‘You good, we playin’ ball, man. As long as you go hard, you gon’ make me better.’ So he’s one of the main guys that been sticking out to me.”

Thornton started in place of an injured Jaycee Horn on Friday. Pro Football Focus graded Thornton’s performance out at 76.9, the fifth-highest mark of the Panthers defense.

Top observations

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers 2025 training camp tracker: Top takeaways from Day 14