CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers' top two draft picks, linebacker Shaq Thompson and wide receiver Devin Funchess, both left Friday afternoon's rookie minicamp practice early.
Thompson, the 25th overall pick from Washington, tweaked his hamstring and was held out of the final hour of Friday's second practice. Funchess, selected in the second round with the 41st overall pick, limped off the field at the tail end of the nearly two-hour session.
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Funchess hopped on a cart, which then drove the 6-4, 232-pound former Michigan receiver back to the team facility. Coach Ron Rivera relayed a message that Funchess had a cramp and was taken to receive an IV.
Both players are expected to be fine, but it's unclear if either will participate in Saturday's practice.
The Panthers held two practices on Friday and will wrap up their two-day rookie minicamp with a three-hour practice Saturday. While Rivera did not formally address the media Friday afternoon, he did speak about the rookies after the morning session. He said the biggest adjustments for rookies will be “adapting to the quickness” of the NFL.
“There are a lot of adjustments that each one of these guys will go through,” Rivera said. “It’s just like going from junior high to high school to college to the NFL, every step you take is going to be another step up.”