Panthers Re-Sign Wes Horton
The Panthers have re-signed defensive end Wes Horton, according to ESPN.com’s David Newton (Twitter link). Horton was waived by the Panthers on the weekend of the 53-man cutdown deadline. 
Horton will provide depth for Carolina with defensive tackle Paul Soliai likely out for this week’s game against the Saints. Soliai is dealing with a sprained foot. Newton writes that Lavar Edwards, who can play end or on the interior D-Line, likely will be a part or the tackle rotation along with Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, and Kyle Love.
An undrafted rookie in 2013, Horton made 15 starts for the Panthers in 2014 in place of suspended teammate Greg Hardy. Following a rookie campaign that saw him compile eight tackles and two sacks, the former USC standout finished his sophomore season with 26 tackles and three sacks. However, 2015 was a tumultuous year for Horton, who returned to a bench role, then was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
Now he’s back in Carolina and hoping to stick on the roster.
Panthers Waive Damiere Byrd
- The Panthers have waived wide receiver Damiere Byrd, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Byrd hooked on with the Panthers last year after going undrafted from South Carolina. He hasn’t yet logged any NFL action.
Cam Newton Likely To Start Sunday
After missing his first game since 2014 in Week 5, a 17-14 loss to the Buccaneers, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is on track to start Sunday, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Newton, who succumbed to a concussion late in the Panthers’ Week 4 defeat in Atlanta, was a full participant in practice Thursday. The NFL’s reigning MVP will need medical clearance before returning to game action, but head coach Ron Rivera said he “so far” looks primed to suit up against the Saints.
The Panthers didn’t necessarily struggle to move the ball without Newton this past Monday, as they combined for 414 total yards, but they had difficulty scoring and backup signal-caller Derek Anderson threw two interceptions. The defending NFC champions shockingly dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in their division in the process.
Next up for the Panthers is a road tilt against another NFC South opponent, 1-3 New Orleans, in a hugely important game for both teams. Carolina seems more likely to rebound from its poor start than the Saints are from theirs, though a fourth straight defeat would make rallying to overtake the 4-1 Falcons in the division or at least grab a wild-card spot all the more difficult for the Panthers.
In addition to Newton, another integral offensive piece – running back Jonathan Stewart – should return against the Saints, according to Person. Stewart hasn’t suited up since the Panthers’ 46-27 win over the 49ers in Week 2, when he departed with a hamstring injury. He and Newton were among the driving forces behind the Panthers’ success last season, but they’ve taken steps back in the early going this year. Having tossed five interceptions, Newton is already halfway to last season’s 16-game total. He has also experienced a drop-off in most other major statistical categories after combining for 45 touchdowns and nearly 4,500 yards as a passer and rusher in 2015. Stewart, meanwhile, has picked up just 73 yards on 20 carries.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/16
Earlier today, the Steelers made a notable practice squad move when they signed running back Karlos Williams. Here’s the rest of today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Zac Dysert
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Lou Young
- Cut: S Marcus Ball
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Anthony Fabiano
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Jay Lee
- Cut: DB Charles Washington
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Senorise Perry
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Shaq Evans
- Cut: FB Glenn Gronkowski
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Eric Pinkins
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: TE Cooper Helfet
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL A.J. Francis
Panthers Audition Five
- The Panthers auditioned offensive tackles Michael Bowie and Pearce Slater, as well as cornerbacks Randall Evans, Tyler Patmon, and Kevin Short, tweets Balzer. Cleveland placed Bowie on the retired list earlier this year, but he’s apparently had a change of heart.
Greg Hardy Transitioning To MMA
Could Greg Hardy go from the gridiron to the octagon? The controversial defensive end says that he’s changing sports and shifting his focus to mixed martial arts. 
[RELATED: Greg Hardy Arrested On Drug Charge]
“I’m very focused and excited to start my MMA career,” Hardy said in a statement provided to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com. “I’m going to do this the right way, I can assure you of that.”
Hardy, once a top defensive player in the NFL, was suspended for the bulk of the 2014 season and part of the 2015 season for a domestic violence incident. The Cowboys gave Hardy a second chance, but he was reportedly a thorn in the side of coaches. This offseason, teams were unwilling to take on all of the headaches that would come with signing Hardy and it now sounds like he is moving on from football altogether.
Hardy does not have a real MMA background to speak of, but his reps claim that several promotions have already expressed interest in signing him. Hardy’s team says that he currently weighs around 285 pounds and plans to fight as a heavyweight when he debuts, most likely in 2017. Under the unified rules of MMA, heavyweights weigh-in between 206 and 265 pounds.
It’s not immediately clear whether the UFC would consider signing Hardy, but the company has shown a willingness to sign non-traditional celebrity fighters in the past. In 2010, the UFC signed boxer James Toney for a one-off fight against ex-champ Randy Couture. Last month, former WWE superstar C.M. Punk made his octagon debut when he fought Mickey Gall in a welterweight bout. The UFC may not want to put on another “freak show” fight so close to Punk’s unsuccessful debut, but another major promotion such as Bellator would likely have serious interest in the former defensive end.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dolphins Claim Bene Benwikere
The Dolphins have claimed cornerback Bene Benwikere off waivers from the Panthers, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). Benwikere was a surprise cut by Carolina earlier this week. 
A starting cornerback for Carolina this year, the team decided to part ways with “Big Play Bene” after Julio Jones exploded for a 300-yard game with 228 of those yards coming against the young corner. After the game, Benwikere admitted to reporters that he was gassed and that may have played a role in his release. The Panthers were expected to shake things up in the secondary, but few expected them to drop one of their top cornerbacks. Once he was cut, however, it was expected that Benwikere would be claimed on waivers.
The 1-4 Dolphins had a high waiver priority and they took advantage of it this week to grab the 25-year-old. Given Xavien Howard‘s knee injury and Byron Maxwell‘s shortcomings, Benwikere makes a lot of sense for Miami.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Is Dave Gettleman To Blame For Panthers Secondary?
- The Panthers’ secondary is a mess right now, and as David Newton of ESPN.com writes, there is really no one else to blame but GM Dave Gettleman. Newton observes that the one area Gettleman hasn’t spent money on is the secondary. He has put together that unit in piecemeal fashion with midrange draft picks and older veterans who came cheap, letting starters like Captain Munnerlyn and Josh Norman walk because they didn’t fit into his financial plan. Now, Gettleman’s approach is starting to catch up with him.
[SOURCE LINK]
Panthers Activate Chris Scott
- Offensive lineman Chris Scott will return to the Panthers‘ 53-man roster after the team activated the previously suspended blocker, Max Henson of Panthers.com tweets. The defending NFC champions made room for the sixth-year player — and fourth-year Panther — by waiving fellow offensive lineman Tyler Larsen.
Panthers Rule Out Cam Newton For Week 5
For the third time in the past three seasons, the Buccaneers will face a Panthers team not quarterbacked by Cam Newton. The Panthers ruled out the reigning league MVP for Monday night’s contest after he suffered a concussion during the second half against the Falcons, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Both of the Carolina-Tampa Bay tilts in 2014 featured Derek Anderson at quarterback instead of Newton, and the defending NFC champions will use that arrangement Monday night. The Panthers won both games behind Anderson, but they came against a Bucs team that ended up going 2-14 to be in position to draft current starter Jameis Winston.
A hit from Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones on a Newton two-point conversion run in the fourth quarter caused the head injury. Anderson then completed 17-of-23 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. The 33-year-old backup is a 54 percent passer for his career, although he did complete 67 percent of his throws in 2014 in relief of Newton.
Newton, of course, has been at the center of the NFL’s concussion controversy this season. The helmet-to-helmet hits he absorbed in Week 1 didn’t result in a concussion, per Panthers doctors, but brought more scrutiny on the league’s protocol.
The Panthers travel to face the Saints in Week 6 and have their bye in Week 7.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.