Panthers’ WR Derek Wright works to make full-time roster, with his family by his side

There’s a first time for everything: First pro contract, first training camp, first day on the practice squad, first season.

This may be wide receiver Derek Wright’s second season in the NFL, but he’s relishing another first this year: This will be his first season with his family in Charlotte.

At 24 years old, Wright is one of the youngest wide receivers in the Panthers’ room, and he’s fighting for a roster spot among veterans like Adam Thielen, Shi Smith and Damiere Byrd. Wright spent his rookie year on the practice squad, but could be first man up to the active roster, or even make the team outright this season.

Through all the unpredictability, Wright said he has more on the line this time around — because he’s a young father now.

“It’s just like, the extra little motivation,” Wright said of his family being in Charlotte. “And it’s a core memory for me to be able to have them out here.”

Wright has spent much of his football career trying to prove people wrong. He was a walk-on, first at Snow College then again at Utah State, and worked to an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2021. He signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent in May 2022, then was waived and re-signed to the practice squad that August.

Then, he was sidelined during mandatory minicamp with a wrist injury but was reassured he was healthy for training camp. He was, and he’s still fighting for a spot, like he hasn’t missed a day.

Added confidence

In the early days of his second year with Carolina, Wright said he has a lot more confidence in training camp. There’s not as much thrown at him, having established relationships with players and understanding what the expectations are.

That’s especially important as he works to build chemistry with a new quarterback, Bryce Young.

Wright said Young has done well getting to know his receivers and how they all move, even though it’s a bit different than working with a veteran quarterback like backup Andy Dalton. Working under two very different leaders with drastically different playing styles has forced Wright to adapt, but he said it hasn’t been an issue.

“It’s different being in the huddle with both of them,” Wright said, describing the experience between the two. “Andy will kind of step in the huddle, and talk about the play a little bit before and then say the play. Whereas Bryce will kind of just get into it and say the play to us, and then we roll from there. And it’s not bad either way. They both like to do what they do.”

Family by his side

And then, of course, there’s his family.

When Wright got his first opportunity with the Panthers last season, his wife, Reggie, was still pregnant with their first child. There wasn’t much of an option for Reggie to join him, so the rookie moved across the country to try for his first spot on the active roster.

“I wouldn’t be able to do this without her,” Wright said. “She’s doing great just being with him and taking care of him, and she knows I have a business to do here.”

With his family in town, he’s more confident on the field, too.

While Wright’s been at camp every day, his wife and little boy have made two trips to visit so far. He smiled even at the thought of his son, nicknamed Jagger, seeing him on the field.

Jagger is just under a year old now, so while it’s exciting for Wright to see his son at practice, Jagger won’t remember much of the experience. But Wright and his wife will.

“Obviously, he’s too young to really know what’s going on,” Wright said. “It’s just something that I hope I’ll be able to cherish.”

Wright also joked that he’ll put Jagger in pads eventually, and he’s already gravitating toward toy footballs at home.

Reaching goals

Wright said he’s trying to talk with some of the veteran players about off-the-field improvements and leadership skills on top of the on-field plays he’s making during practice. He said he’s talked a bit with Thielen and is getting to know Byrd, who’s a veteran of the league, but not with the Panthers.

“I’m trying to pick up on things that they do with their routines and how they study and how they just take care of their bodies and everything like that,” Wright said. “So, you know, they’ve been in this league for a long time for a reason. So I’m trying to just figure out how they did it.”

Wright said he became close with a lot of the players on the starting defense last season, after competing against them every practice. And while being on the practice squad was mentally challenging — often working as hard or harder than the starters with just a hope of suiting up on Sundays — Wright said the experience was necessary.

“There is a chance you can get called up every week,” Wright said. “Until you get that information from the people above, then your one job is just to practice. And that’s really it. And so I kind of just want to have the mindset every week of, my only job right now is to practice and help make the defense better every day.”

The next step for Wright? Making the roster.

There’s still a lot of time — and roster cuts — before Wright will really have an idea of what’s to come in his second season. He’s spent time trying to gain the trust of the coaches and his teammates in this camp, with the “long-term” goal of making the team — for himself, and for Reggie and Jagger, his biggest supporters.

“I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do and be where I’m supposed to be and make plays when I get the opportunity,” Wright said. “I’m just looking forward to the preseason games to show that on a little bit bigger stage. And so, until then, all I can do is just try and focus on that.”