Panthers Will Pick Up QB Bryce Young’s 5th-Year Option
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Tuesday (via The Athletic’s Joseph Person) that the team would pick up Bryce Young‘s fifth-year option for the 2027 season.
Young, 24, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He has met the playtime requirements to be in the second tier of fifth-year options, currently projected by OverTheCap to be $26.53MM for quarterbacks. After a rough first two years in the NFL, he took some strides in 2025, enough for the Panthers to affirm their belief in him.
“I think Bryce has shown flashes of greatness this year against high-level competition,” Morgan said. “As a team, we weren’t as consistent as we wanted to be on a game-to-game basis.”
Young was not especially consistent, either, with only marginal improvements over his 2024 stats. The “flashes” to which Morgan is referring are likely Young’s four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives in 2025, which matched his total from his first two seasons.
“I just felt like he had a lot more command out there this year, and really just coming into his own and getting better every week and just attacking every day,” Morgan added. “And that’s really all you can ask for from any player, let alone your quarterback.”
Despite his effusive praise of his young QB, Morgan was non-committal on potential extension negotiations this offseason, per Person, saying only that “it’s still up in the air.” That is a sensible position considering that Young has yet to prove that he is worth a multi-year extension in a pricey quarterback market.
Young will be much more expensive in 2027, and an extension would likely raise his pay further. The Panthers have leaned on veteran backups for the last three years, but Morgan indicated (via Person) the team was open to bringing in a younger passer this offseason. That will make it easier to build a roster in 2027 and potentially beyond, as Carolina would not have to pay for a premium backup. Adding a young quarterback now also gives the Panthers more options for the future. He would have two seasons to develop behind Young; by then, the team would have an idea of his potential as a starter. If Young has not made more progress, the Panthers could opt to part ways with him and move onto a younger, cheaper quarterback.
Such a decision is a long ways away, and Young’s performance in 2026 and 2027 could pre-empt it entirely. For now, Carolina has made its next decision regarding Young and can now turn their offseason attention to the rest of the team.
Commanders Request Interview With Mike Bercovici For QBs Coach Job
The Commanders moved quickly to secure David Blough as their next offensive coordinator, and they are now in the process of filling his staff.
Panthers assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici is one of Washington’s early targets. The Commanders requested to interview him for their quarterbacks job, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Bercovici, 32, is a former quarterback who played at Arizona State in college. After brief stints with the Chargers and the Cardinals, which featured no regular season playing time, he moved to the now-defunct American Alliance of Football. He retired from playing when the league folded in 2019 and went back to Arizona State to start his coaching career.
Bercovici quickly made the jump into the NFL’s coaching ranks when Kliff Kingsbury – the Commanders’ last offensive coordinator – hired him for a role on his Cardinals staff in 2020. When Kingsbury was fired after the 2022 season, Bercovici was hired by then-Panthers head coach Frank Reich as an assistant wide receivers coach. When Dave Canales arrived in Carolina in 2024, he moved Bercovici to his current role.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has made notable strides in the last two years, and Bercovici likely deserves some credit for his development. He would be tasked with taking Jayden Daniels to another level after the former LSU quarterback followed up his Offensive Rookie of the Year debut with a disappointing, injury-riddled sophomore campaign. The two overlapped for a year at Arizona State, with Bercovici serving as a graduate assistant while Daniels started at quarterback as a true freshman.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/12/26
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Carolina Panthers
- LB Jared Bartlett, G Ja’Tyre Carter, G Saahdiq Charles, WR Dan Chisena, CB Tyrek Funderburk, G Joshua Gray, RB Montrell Johnson, OLB Jamil Muhammad, LB Maz Mwansa, TE Bryce Pierre, WR Ja’seem Reed, S Demani Richardson, WR Ainias Smith, RB Anthony Tyus, LB Jacoby Windmon
Green Bay Packers
- OT Brant Banks, DL Dante Barnett, OG Karsen Barnhart, DL Anthony Campbell, TE McCallan Castles, OT Dalton Cooper, TE Drake Dabney, DL James Ester, K Lucas Havrisik, CB Tyron Herring, LB Jamon Johnson, RB Damien Martinez, S Mark Perry, WR Will Sheppard, RB Pierre Strong, TE Messiah Swinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Carter Bradley, WR Chandler Brayboy, G Jerome Carvin, TE Patrick Herbert, RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, WR Tim Jones, T Ricky Lee, DB Keni-H Lovely, DB Jabbar Muhammad, DT Keivie Rose, DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, DB Trevian Thomas, WR Austin Trammell, G Sal Wormley, OT Kilian Zierer
New York Jets
- WR Mac Dalena, K Lenny Krieg, QB Bailey Zappe
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Chance Campbell, DB Tariq Castro-Fields, WR Danny Gray, DT Gabe Hall, DB Brandon Johnson, C Jake Majors, T Hollin Pierce, WR Quez Watkins
Washington Commanders
- DE Andre Carter
Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu Suffers Torn Patellar Tendon
Ikem Ekwonu suffered what Panthers head coach Dave Canales referred to as a “significant” knee injury yesterday. Further testing has confirmed that is indeed the case. 
Canales said on Sunday Ekwonu suffered a torn patellar tendon. Surgery is forthcoming as a result. No firm timeline is in place at this point, but a lengthy rehab process now awaits the Panthers’ left tackle. Canales noted the injury will have an impact on Carolina’s offseason planning along the offensive line.
“It is something we have to consider, knowing we’re going to go through a full offseason — what’s the timeline, how does that affect training camp, roster numbers and all of that,” Canales said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “Timeline wise, all those times vary, but it’s significant.”
Ekwonu is in danger of missing not only the coming offseason program as well as training camp but also a large portion of the 2026 campaign. Being without him for an extended period would deal a notable blow to Carolina’s O-line, a unit which could see considerable turnover during the coming months. Ekwonu and the Panthers have a mutual interest in an extension, but a major injury such as this could lead to a pause in negotiations on that front.
Last offseason, the Panthers picked up Ekwonu’s fifth-year option. As a result, the 25-year-old is due to earn $17.56MM for 2026. That figure is guaranteed, but the potential for other left tackle investments in free agency and/or the draft will be something to watch closely in Carolina’s case. The team will be seeking offensive upgrades across the board coming off an inconsistent 2025 campaign which resulted in a division title but also left plenty of room for improvement.
Ekwonu was fully available for each of his first two years in the NFL. The former No. 6 pick missed just two games in each of the 2024 and ’25 campaigns, but that strong run of availability is in serious danger of being interrupted next season.
Panthers, DC Ejiro Evero Agreed To Extension Prior To 2025 Season
Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s contract was due to expire at the end of the 2025 season. Although it was not revealed until Sunday, during head coach Dave Canales‘ end-of-season presser, Carolina extended Evero before the start of the ’25 campaign (via Joe Person of The Athletic). Person adds that the contract runs through 2027.
Evero, 45, has been with the Panthers since 2023, one year before Canales’ arrival. While new head coaches generally prefer to bring in their own coordinators, Canales noted at the outset that he hoped to retain Evero. As such, Carolina blocked him from taking defensive coordinator interviews with other clubs.
They could not prevent him from speaking with teams about a head coaching position, and he landed second HC interviews with three clubs in the 2024 cycle (including the Panthers, who ultimately settled on Canales). Obviously, he did not land any of those positions, but his status as one of the best defensive coaches in the game has endured.
Evero’s career as an NFL staffer began back in 2011 as a quality control coach with the 49ers. He eventually worked his way up the ranks and parlayed his work as the secondary coach and passing game coordinator with the Super Bowl champion Rams in 2021 into a defensive coordinator post with the Broncos in 2022.
That year was a disastrous one for the Broncos, who fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett in the middle of the campaign. Ejero’s defense, though, was not the problem, as his unit finished seventh in yards allowed. He declined to take the interim HC job upon Hackett’s dismissal and was released from his contract when Denver acquired Sean Payton.
In his first year with the Panthers in 2023, the club finished fourth in total defense (although Carolina surrendered the fourth-most points per game). In the first year of the Canales/Evero partnership in 2024, the Panthers finished dead last in terms of both total defense and scoring defense, which likely played a role in Evero’s absence from the 2025 HC circuit.
The Panthers nonetheless opted not only to retain Evero, but to extend his contract. While their surprising run to the playoffs in 2025 was made possible by a weak NFC South, they did push the Rams to the brink in a narrow wildcard-round loss on Saturday and ended the regular season in the middle of the pack with respect to yards allowed and points allowed.
As Carolina looks to build on something of a breakthrough, it will have continuity at the top of the coaching staff.
Panthers Activate G Robert Hunt From IR
The Panthers are big underdogs to the Rams in the wild-card round, having finished 8-9. But the home team will have a key offensive line presence available. Robert Hunt is coming off IR, where he has resided since a Week 2 injury.
Carolina announced Friday Hunt is now activated, and the high-priced guard will start against Los Angeles. A biceps tendon tear has kept Hunt out for nearly four months, but the Panthers will have their two guard starters — Hunt and Damien Lewis — ready for the franchise’s first playoff game in eight years.
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]
Hunt returned to practice on Christmas Eve but was given a ramp-up period despite the Panthers not being on firm playoff footing. The patience ultimately will be rewarded, and Hunt will have a chance to close out his season on a high note. The former Dolphins second-round pick is finishing out the second season of a five-year, $100MM contract.
The Panthers, who have four injury activations remaining, have used Austin Corbett as their other guard. Corbett has yoyoed between guard and center in Carolina. Cade Mays has become the Panthers’ primary center. Hunt, 29, started 16 games last season and had built considerable momentum during his final years in Miami.
ESPN’s run block win rate metric slotted Hunt second among all interior offensive linemen last season. The Panthers have deployed a middling run game this season, despite some quality earlier Rico Dowdle work. They rank 19th in rushing and 27th in scoring offense.
Carolina has been maddeningly inconsistent on offense in Bryce Young‘s third season; Young’s development (or lack thereof at the time) was the key driver for Hunt and Lewis to be given big-ticket FA contracts in 2024. The Panthers will not be expected to beat the Rams twice in one season — well, Vegas certainly doesn’t think this will happen — but they should have a better shot with a key offensive starter back.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/8/26
A handful of playoff teams shuffled their practice squads today. We’ve listed all of the moves below:
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Placed on IR: LB Ty Summers
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S Kaevon Merriweather
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
- Released: CB Miles Battle
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/7/26
Today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Shane Buechele
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Demani Richardson
- Released: CB Michael Reid
Denver Broncos
- Signed: T Geron Christian, C Michael Deiter, TE Marcedes Lewis
- Released: G Nash Jones, C Joe Michalski
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DT Anthony Campbell
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: WR Will Sheppard
Houston Texans
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Marcus Maye
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Tre Flowers
Richardson, Christian, Lewis, Wallace, Maye, and Flowers all cleared waivers after being cut from their respective teams earlier this week. They’ll all return to those teams via new practice squad deals.
Panthers EVP Brandt Tilis To Interview For Falcons’ Football Ops. Job
The Falcons have another candidate for their newly-created president of football operations role: Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis.
Tilis is set to interview for the role, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though ex-Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan appears to be a frontrunner for the position. Atlanta is nonetheless obligated to interview other candidates, who may also emerge as figures in their search for a new general manager.
Tilis came up in the Chiefs’ front office, starting as a salary cap analyst in 2010 and eventually rising to vice president of football operations in 2021. In 2024, he interviewed for the Panthers’ GM position, and though that ultimately went to Dan Morgan, Tilis still came to Carolina in a VP role. Carolina went 5-12 in their first year under their new front office and improved to 8-9 this year to secure the franchise’s first NFC South crown since 2015.
While head coach Dave Canales‘ work with Bryce Young and the Panthers offense has yielded clear results on the field, Morgan and Tilis have knocked their roster moves out of the park. Major investments, like drafting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and signing safety Tre’von Moehrig, have paid off, and Carolina’s roster is peppered with key contributors on excellent contracts that were signed in the last two offseasons. Among them are safety Nick Scott, cornerback Michael Jackson, and running back Rico Dowdle.
The Falcons’ focus on Ryan seems to close the door on Tilis securing the top football operations job, but his initial discussion with the team may keep him in the race for general manager, as well. The other known candidate for that job is Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, who the team has already requested to interview.
Atlanta will likely finalize Ryan’s hiring as director of football operations before moving onto their GM and head coach selections, by which time Tilis’ name may come back up. He could also draw interest from another team looking to reshape their front office with an executive who helped build a dynasty in Kansas City and has contributed to Carolina’s rapid return to relevance.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/26
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return from IR: G Chandler Zavala
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: LB Karene Reid
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad QB Desmond Ridder
- Waived: QB Clayton Tune
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DE Darrell Taylor
- Waived: S K’Von Wallace
Set to host the Rams in the wild-card round on Saturday, the Panthers have opened Zavala’s 21-day practice window. That will at least give Zavala a chance to return this week. Zavala has been on IR twice this year – once for a knee injury, again for a calf problem – which limited him to seven games and five starts during the regular season. He hasn’t played since Week 12.
The Packers rested starting quarterback Jordan Love in their regular-season finale against the Vikings. Backup Malik Willis was unavailable because of shoulder and hamstring issues, which led to Tune receiving his second NFL start. It went poorly for the 26-year-old Tune, who completed 6 of 11 passes for 34 yards in a 16-3 loss. Ridder, who combined for 18 starts with the Falcons and Raiders from 2022-24, will replace Tune on the Packers’ roster as they prepare for a playoff showdown with the rival Bears.