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Cam Sims Cam Sims Moved to reserve/PUP list
Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 6:49 PM
The Panthers placed Sims (undisclosed) on the reserve/PUP list Friday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Sims had previously been placed on the active/PUP list, and in moving to the reserve/PUP list, he now won't count as part of the Panthers' 90-man roster. Carolina will have until cut-down day to determine if the wideout will be activated or remain on the reserve/PUP list, in which case he'd need to sit out the first four games of the campaign. Sims had been looking to vie for a roster spot in training camp after signing with Carolina on a reserve/future contract in January. |
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Feleipe Franks Feleipe Franks Signed by Carolina
Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 6:09 PM
The Panthers signed Franks on Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Franks had a tryout with Carolina on Monday, and he impressed the organization enough to get a contract. The 26-year-old spent the previous three seasons with Atlanta, though he was on injured reserve all of last year due to an undisclosed issue. Franks is presumably now healthy, and he'll look to make a positive impression in training camp with the aim of competing for a roster spot. |
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Deven Thompkins Deven Thompkins Inks deal with Carolina
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 3:09 PM
Thompkins (hamstring) signed with the Panthers on Thursday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The Buccaneers waived Thompkins with an injury settlement in early June, and now that he's past his hamstring issue, the third-year wide receiver has decided to follow his former offensive coordinator, Dave Canales, to Carolina. Thompkins has served primarily as a return man during his time in the NFL, so he'll likely be competing with Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Raheem Blackshear for the the Panthers' top kick and punt returner spots as the offseason progresses. |
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Tommy Tremble Tommy Tremble Dealing with hamstring issue
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 11:22 AM
Coach Dave Canales said Thursday that Tremble is managing hamstring tightness, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Analysis: Canales said the Panthers are taking some precautionary measures with Tremble, to try and prevent worsening the state of his hamstring. At this point, there's no indication the fourth-year pro will have to miss significant time, with his next real target for return being Carolina's preseason opener against New England on August 8. Tremble is competing with rookie fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and veteran holdover Ian Thomas for standing in the tight end pecking order. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Returns for start of camp
Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 10:06 AM
Legette (hamstring) was on the practice field Wednesday for the start of training camp, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: A hamstring injury limited Legette's practice participation this spring after the Panthers took him 32nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's back in action with plenty of time to secure a top-three role at receiver alongside Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, likely competing for perimeter snaps with 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo and 2021 second-round pick Terrace Marshall. Few wide receivers can match Legette's combination of straight-line speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash time) and bulk (6-foot-1, 223 pounds), but he was a non-factor at South Carolina before exploding for 1,255 receiving yards his final season. He now enters the NFL with the usual concerns that come with bigger wideouts: route running and change-of-direction skills. |
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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Activated off PUP list
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 6:19 PM
The Panthers activated Coker (undisclosed) off the active/PUP list Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Coker signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in April after leading the FCS with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2023. Coker will be ready for the start of Panthers training camp Wednesday, and he'll compete for a spot on the end of the wide receiver depth chart. |
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Cam Sims Cam Sims Lands on PUP list
Sat, Jul 20, 2024, 3:57 PM
The Panthers placed Sims (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Saturday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Sims signed a reserve/future contract with Carolina in January after jumping around between the practice squads of multiple organizations last year. He could still have a chance in training camp to compete for a spot on the Panthers' 53-man roster, but he'll need to pass a physical before he's eligible to practice and play in preseason contests. |
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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Placed on PUP list
Fri, Jul 19, 2024, 6:07 PM
The Panthers placed Coker (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Coker linked up with Carolina as an undrafted free agent back in April, and it appears he picked up an injury at some point during spring practices. Once healthy and ready to practice, Coker will be eligible to come off the PUP list at any time this summer. The reigning FCS leader in receiving touchdowns, Coker is competing for an end-of-roster role in Carolina's wide receiver room. |
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Jonathon Brooks Jonathon Brooks Not cleared for start of camp
Fri, Jul 19, 2024, 3:55 PM
The Panthers placed Brooks (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Carolina saw rookies report for the start of training camp Friday, and despite early offseason reports that Brooks would be cleared for the start of camp, he will begin on the NFI list while continuing to recover from a torn right ACL suffered last November. Of course, Brooks can be activated at any time this summer, so he could still gain clearance to practice in at least a limited capacity without missing much of camp. The rookie second-round pick has just under three weeks to prepare for the Panthers' preseason opener against New England, and when ready to practice, he figures to compete for first-team reps with Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Rashaad Penny. |
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Adam Thielen Adam Thielen Slot role remains intact?
Wed, Jun 26, 2024, 1:24 PM
Thielen projects to reprise his role as the top slot receiver for Carolina during the 2024 season, with newcomers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (hamstring) slated to primarily line up on the outside, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Thielen was one of the few offensive playmakers to find success during Bryce Young's rookie season, as he compiled a 103-1,014-4 receiving line while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Adding an established veteran in Johnson and a high-upside first-round rookie in Legette could give Young the tools to take a step forward, and with that improve the Panthers' passing offense. Despite an increase in target competition, Thielen's combination of established chemistry with Young and slot role could still make him a go-to target for the second-year signal-caller, especially early during the 2024 campaign if Legette needs some time to build momentum. |
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Ian Thomas Ian Thomas Surprisingly busy during OTAs
Tue, Jun 25, 2024, 10:35 AM
Thomas caught a surprising number of passes during Carolina's offseason program, ESPN's David Newton reports.
Analysis: The 2018 fourth-round pick got a lot of snaps and routes early in his career but never improved on a rookie season with 36 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He then had four straight years between 136 and 197 yards, before sinking to five catches for 56 yards last season while playing a career-low 206 snaps. It sounds like Thomas may be a better fit in new coach Dave Canales' scheme, but fantasy value still seems a bit far-fetched for a player with 1,055 yards and four TDs on 2,975 career snaps. The Panthers also have Tommy Tremble and 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders competing for playing time at tight end, with the former better suited to blocking and the latter more of a receiving threat. Sanders is the only one of the bunch that seems to offer any real upside to become a fantasy-worthy pass catcher. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Targeting training camp
Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 1:10 PM
Coach Dave Canales said Tuesday that Legette (hamstring), who isn't participating in practice, is expected to be 100 percent for training camp, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Legette has been dealing with a hamstring injury since May, but it doesn't seem the issue will prevent him from handling full reps during training camp. Canales downplayed the severity of Legette's injury, per Joe Person of The Athletic, stating that if the Panthers were currently preparing for a game week the wideout would be practicing. Once healthy, Legette should have a clear path to earning a starting role alongside veteran receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. |
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Miles Sanders Miles Sanders Dealing with heel injury
Tue, Jun 4, 2024, 3:03 PM
Sanders sat out minicamp practice Tuesday with a heel injury, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Obeserver reports.
Analysis: Coach Dave Canales said Sanders had something "flare up" with his heel, and he's missing practice time this week. Overall, it doesn't sound like a serious issue for Sanders, but he's missing valuable reps with his new coaching staff. The Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft to join Chuba Hubbard in the backfield, so Sanders looks like he's going to head into training camp no higher than third on the running back depth chart. His inability to play special teams would make him a tough player to have active on game days if that's the case. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Missing practice again
Tue, Jun 4, 2024, 11:22 AM
Legette (hamstring) isn't practicing Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Legette first missed practice last Wednesday, with Panthers coach Dave Canales saying the rookie "looked tight" the day before. Legette's hamstring injury doesn't appear too serious, as he's working off to the side with Carolina's training staff Tuesday. He'll likely be ready for the start of training camp in late July even if he doesn't practice again before then. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Dealing with tightness
Wed, May 29, 2024, 12:55 PM
Legette missed practice Wednesday, with coach Dave Canales noting afterward that the rookie "looked tight" the day before, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It sounds like the 32nd overall pick is dealing with a minor muscular injury in his lower body. Assuming he doesn't miss too much time, Legette is in a good position to earn rookie-year snaps, joining a Carolina offense that's badly in need of a downfield target to complement veteran possession receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. The Panthers didn't get much from 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo last season, but they went back to the well for a physically similar player this April, hoping Legette's 4.39 speed in a 223-pound frame will translate to the NFL in a hurry. |
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Spencer Brown Spencer Brown Moves to IR
Mon, May 13, 2024, 6:44 PM
Brown (undisclosed) reverted to the Panthers' injured reserve list Monday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Brown spent two stints with the Panthers' practice squad in 2023 but was never elevated to the active roster. He signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and played in three games over the next two seasons, recording nine carries for 43 yards. |
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Rashaad Penny Rashaad Penny Officially lands with Carolina
Mon, May 6, 2024, 4:43 PM
The Panthers agreed to terms with Penny on Monday.
Analysis: Penny is now 28 years old and spent last season in Philadelphia, where he appeared in just three regular-season games and was routinely a healthy scratch on game days. When healthy in Seattle from 2018-2022, he was electric with the ball in his hands, averaging a lethal 5.7 yards per carry on 337 rushing attempts, but an inability to stay on the field was his downfall. He has a history with new Panthers coach Dave Canales from their time together in Seattle, and Penny gives the Panthers backfield some more experience behind Chuba Hubbard and rookie Jonathon Brooks. There has been chatter that Miles Sanders' time may be running out with the team after just one season in Carolina. |
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Jonathon Brooks Jonathon Brooks On track for camp
Wed, May 1, 2024, 11:01 AM
Brooks (knee) remains on track to be cleared for training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Brooks said the ACL tear he suffered in November didn't come with any damage to other ligaments -- a factor that likely contributed to the Panthers' confidence making him the first back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft (46th overall). He's begun running and plans to resume cutting soon, with the intention of participating at the start of training camp in late July, shortly after his 21st birthday. Brooks didn't play much at Texas until Bijan Robinson left for the NFL, but once he got his chance the results were impressive, with Brooks recording 1,139 rushing yards and 286 receiving yards in 11 games last season. In Carolina, he joins a backfield with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, though it isn't clear if the latter will have a role after his poor showing last season. |
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Chuba Hubbard Chuba Hubbard Facing tough snap competition
Tue, Apr 30, 2024, 4:17 PM
The Panthers took Jonathon Brooks (knee) in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, potentially giving Hubbard competition for the starting job, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Hubbard was positioned to enter Week 1 as a starter for the first time in his pro career, and while he's still the favorite for that task, competition for snaps in the Carolina backfield just got much stiffer. The Panthers took Brooks with the 46th overall pick, making him the first running back drafted in 2024, 20 selections before Trey Benson. They also still have Miles Sanders, who was a massive bust in the first season of his four-year contract but has a guaranteed $4.02 million salary for 2024. It's a situation where Hubbard's projection as the Week 1 starter might not mean much in terms of fantasy expectations for the full season, especially if reports continue to be positive on Brooks' rehab from the ACL tear he suffered Nov. 11. |
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Miles Sanders Miles Sanders Joined by rookie second-rounder
Mon, Apr 29, 2024, 3:43 PM
Sanders faces competition from rookie second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) for backfield work during the 2024 season, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Sanders was overtaken by Chuba Hubbard down the stretch of the 2023 season, in which he logged a career-low 129 carries for 432 yards (3.3 YPC) and one touchdown, so the arrival of Brooks could impact his opportunities. First-year coach Dave Canales said the Panthers plan to deploy all three backs, and Brooks is working his way back from an ACL tear, so Sanders' primary competition for touches could be Hubbard to begin the year. It's easy to imagine a scenario, though, where Brooks earns himself a more solidified role atop the depth chart once he's fully healthy. |
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