CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -It didn’t take long Wednesday for Kris Jenkins’ teammates to figure out he was absent.
“It’s tough to miss a guy that size,” guard Mike Wahle said of the 6-foot-4, 335-pound – when in shape – Carolina defensive tackle. “I don’t know what the deal is. From a certain standpoint, I can’t say I miss him.”
Jenkins skipped a voluntary team workout, irritating players and coaches a month after the Panthers failed to trade the three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Late Wednesday, Jenkins’ agent, Tony Paige, said his client wants a new contract, but that was not the reason he was a no-show.
“He’s just not in position to be there right now,” Paige said. “He has kids and business to attend to in Maryland. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Jenkins was one of two players, and the only starter, who failed to attend the opening day of three weeks of practices. While the sessions are officially voluntary, it’s rare for players not to attend.
“Do we wish he was here? Sure,” Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said. “It’s a voluntary session and he chose not to be here. It’s all we can do.”
The Panthers dangled Jenkins as trade bait before the NFL draft, but were unable to work out a deal. Hurney and coach John Fox then said they expected Jenkins to be with the team next season.
Jenkins showed up for a mandatory minicamp a week after the draft. While he appeared to be well over his listed weight, he claimed he had no ill will toward the Panthers. But Hurney said Jenkins gave no indication he would miss Wednesday’s workout.
Paige said he’s talked with Hurney several times over the past couple of months trying to work a new deal for Jenkins, who is scheduled to make about $3 million a season through 2009.
“Talks are ongoing,” Paige said.
Paige wouldn’t say if Jenkins will hold out of training camp if a new deal is not in place.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. It makes no sense to talk about it now,” Paige said.
The absence puts into doubt Jenkins’ future with the team.
“I prefer for him to be here, just like all the players,” Fox said. “They’re better off when they’re here versus when they’re not. But when you have league rules that say they’re voluntary, you don’t spend much time worrying about it.”
Fox was annoyed last winter when Jenkins, who has always had difficulty keeping his weight down, skipped voluntary conditioning sessions, forfeiting a $175,000 bonus.
“We expect him to come into training camp in shape, if he doesn’t come in before that,” Hurney said.
Jenkins was Carolina’s second-round draft pick in 2001 and quickly developed into one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles, making consecutive Pro Bowls in 2002 and ’03.
But Jenkins missed all but five games the next two seasons with shoulder and knee injuries. While he was sidelined, Jenkins’ weight soared and he acknowledged he became depressed and drank too much.
Jenkins returned last season and was a surprise pick for the Pro Bowl, although he wasn’t as dominating as earlier in his career.
With Jenkins missing, Damione Lewis worked with the first team Wednesday alongside Maake Kemoeatu.
“I really don’t know too much what is going on with him, but I’ve always been a team guy and want to be here and do what they ask me to do,” Lewis said.
The only other player missing was undrafted rookie safety Jessie Daniels, who was tending to a family matter. He’s expected to join the team Sunday.
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