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Panthers Open Practice Window For DT LaBryan Ray

October 1st, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

A slew of transactions came out of Carolina today, including the opening of defensive tackle LaBryan Ray‘s 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve. The team announced Ray’s return to practice today among several other roster announcements.

Once a five-star recruit who came out of Alabama undrafted, Ray will look to join an improved defensive line rotation for the Panthers. Ray earned nine starts last year filling in for an injured Derrick Brown. He’ll now have 21 days to return from an injury of his own before being reverted to season-ending IR if he can’t be activated.

Carolina had three open spots on their active roster after some injured reserve placements, and taking those spots on the 53-man roster will be practice squad running back DeeJay Dallas and practice squad safety Trevian Thomas. Dallas signed to Carolina’s taxi squad after being cut by the Cardinals one year into a three-year deal. While he adds depth the running backs room as Chuba Hubbard continues to be limited at practice with calf issue, his real value in the NFL has come a return man, where he can add depth after the loss of David Moore.

To fill the open slots on the practice squad, the Panthers signed offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles, running Anthony Tyus III, and offensive lineman Aiden Williams.

Panthers Place G Chandler Zavala, WR David Moore On IR

October 1st, 2025 at 4:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ offensive line is already shorthanded with Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett set for lengthy absences. The unit will be missing another notable contributor for the time being.

Guard Chandler Zavala was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, per a team announcement. The 2023 fourth-rounder took over from Hunt in Week 2 after he went down. For each of the past two games, Zavala handled starting duties at the right guard spot. With Hunt likely to miss most of the season’s remainder, that setup was set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Instead, Carolina’s offensive line plans will need to change once more. Zavala – who is dealing with a knee injury – is now set to miss at least the next four weeks. The 26-year-old’s absence will deal another blow to a Carolina offense which has battled inconsistency in 2025. It will also mark the second of Zavala’s three NFL seasons in which he has missed time.

The Panthers have also placed depth receiver David Moore on IR. The veteran has what head coach Dave Canales termed a “significant” elbow dislocation (h/t Joe Person of The Athletic). A lengthy recovery timeline is expected in this case, and Moore is set to be sidelined longer than Zavala. Carolina’s receiving corps will move forward without a regular presence (albeit one with only one reception to date) in the fold for a notable stretch.

In need of healthy O-line options, Carolina also announced today that Jake Curhan has been signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad. The former UDFA has made 40 appearances and 11 starts in his career, but he has yet to see any playing time on offense so far with Arizona. That could soon change given this change of scenery.

The 1-3 Panthers will host a Dolphins team sporting the same record in Week 5. Carolina’s efforts to rebound from a poor start to the season will include an offense featuring even fewer available contributors, though.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/30/25

September 30th, 2025 at 6:41pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

September 29th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 26 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations at that point.

Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 5:

Arizona Cardinals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Atlanta Falcons

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Buffalo Bills

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Carolina Panthers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Chicago Bears

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Cleveland Browns

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Denver Broncos

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

Detroit Lions

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 8

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Houston Texans

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Jacksonville Jaguars

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Los Angeles Chargers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Los Angeles Rams

Activations remaining: 8

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

New England Patriots

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

New Orleans Saints

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

New York Jets

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

Pittsburgh Steelers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

San Francisco 49ers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Activations remaining: 8

Tennessee Titans

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 7

Washington Commanders

Activations remaining: 8

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/27/25

September 27th, 2025 at 6:34pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

With Colts cornerback Kenny Moore presumed to potentially miss a few weeks, the recent signee, Hilton, will get his opportunity to supplement the team’s secondary. He may be able to earn an official spot on the 53-man roster with an impactful game. Similarly, Cropper may be able to get into his first NFL game since going undrafted in 2023 as he gets elevated to a receiving corps that will sorely miss CeeDee Lamb.

Morris is getting called up for the third time for Jacksonville. If the Jaguars intend for him to appear in another game after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/25

September 23rd, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

As teams enter Week 4, here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

The Falcons’ kicking rollercoaster took another turn in Week 3 with John Parker Romo missing both of his attempts in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. Granted, those kicks came from 49 and 55 yards, so Atlanta may have some patience after signing Romo to a two-year contract last week. The Falcons still brought in some potential competition in Sauls, an undrafted rookie who spent training camp with the Steelers and made five of his six field goals in the preseason.

Wright is expected to be out for four to six weeks due to a foot injury, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Watson signed with the Buccaneers after the draft but remained on the non-football injury list as he worked to get his weight to a more manageable level. He was waived during final roster cuts, but the team hosted him for a workout last week, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman. Watson met the team’s athletic requirements to earn his way back on the practice squad, according to Auman, and will return just in time for the Bucs’ Week 4 matchup with the Eagles. The massive nose tackle does feel like a direct counter to the tush push, but Bowles previously said (via Auman) that Watson wouldn’t be re-signed just for one matchup and would instead need to be ready to contribute to the defense as a whole.

Panthers TE Ja’Tavion Sanders Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks

September 23rd, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s victory over the Falcons, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.

The 2024 fourth-round pick will miss multiple weeks as a result with veteran Tommy Tremble likely stepping back into a starting role.

After largely playing behind Tremble as a rookie, Sanders started Carolina’s first three games this season and outsnapped his veteran teammate 129 to 97. He ranks second on the team in receptions (11) and receiving yards (92), both top-20 marks among tight ends through three games, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Tremble caught all six of his targets for 38 yards to open the year and will likely see an uptick in snap count and receiving opportunities. Fifth-round rookie Mitchell Evans stands to benefit even more, as he only played 35 snaps in the first three weeks but will be elevated to a TE2 role during Sanders’ absence.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales also confirmed that right guard Robert Hunt underwent biceps surgery. His earliest return would be at the end of the season, according to ESPN’s David Newton, while center Austin Corbett avoided surgery but will be out for at least six to eight weeks. Both linemen are on injured reserve.

Carolina has since switched to Chandler Zavala at RG and Cade Mays at C while also poaching Nick Samac off the Ravens’ practice squad to back up both spots. The Panthers offense has struggled behind their injured O-line thus far and will be hoping Corbett can recover on the shorter end of his timeline

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/25

September 20th, 2025 at 6:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves and Week 3’s standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Elevated: T Tyler McLellan

Washington Commanders

There were some eyes on whether or not the Browns would add a kicker for the weekend after Andre Szmyt needed to undergo some MRI testing, but no such moves were made and Szmyt heads into the weekend without an injury designation. The team did report a workout with veteran kicker Matthew Wright, though, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire.

The 49ers will lose some additional offensive line depth as they place their intended swing tackle, Burford, on injured reserve. Additionally, with Martinez not getting signed to the active roster, it appears that injured starter Brock Purdy will not be active as an emergency option, as was rumored a bit yesterday. Purdy should be inactive as a result.

Herbig announced his retirement at the end of July after spending a good portion of the offseason with the Commanders. The 27-year-old was coming off a 2024 season in which he missed the entirety of the year with a shoulder injury. Washington’s release of Herbig from the reserve/retired list gives him an opportunity to sign with a new team as a free agent. There’s no guarantee that he’s headed anywhere specific, but he likely initiated the transaction in order to explore his options.

Panthers To Place G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett On IR

September 18th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

September 18: Hunt underwent successful surgery in California this week, per Joe Person of The Athletic, but the team has not provided any updates regarding his return timetable.

A torn biceps could be season-ending, but Bills linebacker Matt Milano suffered a similar injury in training camp last year and was back on the field at the end of November. However, the specific nature of Hunt’s injury and the different physical requirements for his position will be major factors in his recovery timeline.

September 15: As expected, the Panthers will be shorthanded up front for a lengthy period. Guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett are both headed to injured reserve, head coach Dave Canales confirmed on Monday.

Hunt suffered a torn left biceps during yesterday’s game. Surgery will be required as a result, meaning he could very well be lost for the season. The shift to IR ensures a four-game absence at a minimum, but for both Hunt and Corbett a much longer absence is in store.

Corbett suffered an MCL injury during Carolina’s Week 2 contest. Canales noted the extent of the ailment was initially unclear (with a sprain being a possibility), but he later specified (via ESPN’s David Newton) this is a case of a Grade C injury. That represents a complete tear, meaning surgery will also be required for Corbett. Canales has left the door open for a late-season return in both cases, but it would come as a surprise if either were to be available again in 2025.

The Panthers made continuity a priority along the O-line this offseason. Corbett and fellow center Cade Mays were retained, while longtime right tackle Taylor Moton inked a two-year extension shortly before the start of the campaign. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is still in the fold, as is left guard Damien Lewis. With a number of depth options returning as well, Carolina’s top nine contributors up front in terms of snaps from 2024 are in the fold.

Given today’s injury news, that depth and familiarity will be called upon early. Mays is set to take over from Corbett at center after falling short in this year’s training camp competition for the gig. Canales said Chandler Zavala, meanwhile, will receive the first opportunity to take on the right guard position. The 2023 fourth-rounder made seven total starts across his first two seasons with Carolina, and that figure is now set to increase.

Hunt remains under contract through 2028, so the Pro Bowler’s future with the team is not in questions. Corbett, on the other hand, missed considerable time in each of the past two years. Yet another significant injury will hurt the pending free agent’s chances of being retained this spring along with his market value for any outside teams which show interest.

Cardinals Place CB Garrett Williams On IR

September 17th, 2025 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite walking away with a win this weekend, the Cardinals gave up 328 passing yards to Bryce Young and the Panthers. One reason for that may have been injuries to top corners Garrett Williams, Max Melton, and rookie Will Johnson. Melton and Johnson look like they’ll be fine, but Williams has been placed on injured reserve, per Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban.

Defensive lineman L.J. Collier will reportedly join Williams on IR. A main contributor a year ago after starting 15 games in 2024, Collier has spent the first two weeks of the new season as more of a depth piece on the team’s newly revamped defensive line. The depth hurts, though, as they still await the debut of first-round defensive tackle Walter Nolen.

It’s an unfortunate loss for Arizona with Williams coming off a sophomore campaign in which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated him as the third-best cornerback in the NFL. Melton and Johnson are the team’s starting cornerbacks on the outside, while Williams is the primary nickelback of the Cardinals secondary.

It was a knee injury that Williams suffered on Sunday. The team didn’t go into specifics on the injury, but obviously, it’s enough to keep him off the field for at least four weeks. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t seem too worried, though, claiming that both Williams and Collier could return at some point in the season. Melton was back at practice today and looked unbothered by his own knee injury, while Johnson didn’t practice today but will continue to be evaluated throughout the rest of the week.

In the meantime, fifth-round rookie Denzel Burke stepped up in a big way in his debut on the team’s defense — Burke played only on special teams in Week 1. Third-year corner Kei’Trel Clark saw an increase in snap count, as well. Clark probably has the best chance to fill the slot cornerback role of Williams’. In extremely limited playing time last season, Clark spent about 39 percent of his time in the slot.

Another option to compete for the nickel role is Darren Hall, who was called up from the practice squad to take Williams’ spot on the active roster. Two more practice squad slots were made vacant when defensive tackle Elijah Simmons was signed to Tampa Bay’s active roster and linebacker Elliott Brown was released. Filling the three newly vacant slots are defensive tackle Zachary Carter, defensive tackle Kyon Barrs, and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.

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