Carolina Panthers release Thursday injury report ahead of Week 1

The Carolina Panthers have released their injury report for Thursday, just a few days before the season opener. The wide receiver position could be a concern entering the first game of the year.

A total of four receivers were listed on the injury report. Receivers DJ Clark and Adam Thielen were listed on the DNP for Thursday’s practice. Clark is battling a hamstring issue while Thielen is dealing with an ankle injury.

Terrace Marshall Jr. was considered limited and Ihmir Smith-Marsette labeled as a full participant. Marshall has a back injury while Smith-Marsette is overcoming an ankle problem.

The other two individuals listed on the injury report are defensive end DeShawn Williams and safety Sam Franklin. Williams participated fully on Thursday and Franklin was limited.

Carolina opens the year against Atlanta on Sunday. The Panthers and Falcons square off at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

Carolina begins new era with Bryce Young

If the Panthers are limited on receivers, it could be a rough debut for No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. The former Alabama standout won the starting job and will make his NFL regular season debut on Sunday.

Over the summer, Young talked openly about his quiet confidence while making the transition from college to NFL.

“I don’t really know how other people necessarily perceive me or what people may think,” Young admitted. “For me, I think confidence is something you earn and I show up every day for I think right now is when as a team, as a group we try to earn that confidence.”

During OTAs, Young also talked about building trust among teammates. It will undoubtedly be an important piece to success at the NFL level.

“We earn that trust in one another because you need that for the season. So I think that’s something that we’re still building on, I’m building on, I think those are a big part of OTAs, gonna be a big part of training camp to establish that trust, that confidence that we have in one another and that’s a process,” Young explained.

There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the No. 1 overall pick, especially as the face of the franchise. And while Young still has plenty to learn, he seems to be taking the challenge in stride.

How will Young handle the challenge on Sunday? It could be much more difficult, depending on what Carolina’s injury report looks like come game time.