Panthers DL Cam Jackson embraces Tershawn Wharton’s coaching originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Todd Wash orchestrated a series of NFL training camp drills Sunday, injured lineman Tershawn “Turk” Wharton handled the secondary instruction.
Standing in back of the line, second-year pro Jared Harrison-Hunte listened, with his eyes wide open, as Wharton detailed his movements during his previous turn on the practice fields behind Bank of America Stadium. Utilizing hand movements to demonstrate different ways to disengage offensive linemen, Wharton acted like a future coach.
“Yeah, I can see Turk being a coach,” Panthers defensive lineman Cam Jackson said with a laugh Sunday. “Turk is like that. He was like that with me last year (as a rookie).
“Still now, I go to him and ask him like, ‘Hey, Turk. What do you think I need to fix on this play to do better?
“He’ll sit there and tell me.”
Panthers’ Cam Jackson learns from coaching
On the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Wharton appears to be doing what he can to help. His neck surgery in May surprised the Panthers’ front office and disrupted part of their offseason roster plans. While his absence was offset a bit when general manager Dan Morgan drafted Lee Hunter in the second round last April, Wash – and Wharton – continue to coach up the position room’s prospects like Jackson, Hunter, Harrison-Hunte and undrafted rookie Aaron Hall.
“He’ll tell me, ‘You gotta stay a little lower and shuck him.’ Or, ‘You got to take this foot step,’ ” Jackson said. “It’s just good having a guy like Turk around, especially right now.”
A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, Wharton signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Panthers before 2025 and posted 11 solo tackles and two sacks. Multiple injuries forced the six-year veteran to miss eight regular-season starts.
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During Friday’s practice, Wharton worked on individual conditioning drills. The position remains low on numbers with nose tackle Bobby Brown III (hamstring) on the active/NFI list and edge Nic Scourton (knee) lost for the season after Thursday’s training camp-opening injury. The injuries pushed Jackson up to No. 4 on the DL depth chart, behind Derrick Brown, LaBryan Ray and Harrison-Hunte.
As the Panthers prepare to open the preseason by appearing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, Jackson, who registered nine total tackles in nine games last season, continues to embrace Wharton’s instructions.
“Just soaking him in like a sponge,” Jackson said. “Just taking in all the information from him, so when we get out here, I can just do it.”
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