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Carolina Panthers News & Rumors

Panthers Grant WR Terrace Marshall Permission To Seek Trade

October 19th, 2023 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this month, Terrace Marshall would like to move on. The former second-round pick has been unable to carve out a steady role with the Panthers, and the team is ready to make a deal.

The Panthers have given Marshall’s camp permission to find a trade partner, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. After showing improvement last season, the LSU alum has operated in a reduced role to start Frank Reich‘s tenure. With the Panthers in their bye week, all parties involved will see what is out there in a trade.

Part of a historically successful receiving corps — one including Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase — while in college, Marshall joined a Panthers team housing former Tigers assistant Joe Barry as offensive coordinator. But 2021’s No. 59 overall pick showed more promise under Ben McAdoo last season. The 6-foot-2 wideout averaged 17.5 yards per reception (28 catches, 490 yards) in 2022. Thus far this year, Marshall is at 16-114.

The trade to acquire Bryce Young required the Panthers to part with No. 1 receiver D.J. Moore. After the Panthers dumped the former Robbie Anderson (now Robbie Chosen) before last year’s deadline, Marshall represents the last major link to the team’s Matt Rhule-era receiver plan. The Panthers signed Adam Thielen and DJ Chark before using a second-round pick on Jonathan Mingo. Instead of including this year’s Round 2 pick (No. 38 overall) in the Moore trade — as the Bears initially requested — Carolina included two future seconds. This led to Mingo, who has played ahead of Marshall this season.

Thielen, Chark and Mingo have each played at least 275 offensive snaps; Marshall has only been on the field for 146. Marshall topped 650 yards for LSU’s unbeaten national championship team, and after Jefferson became a 2020 first-rounder and Chase opted out that year, the younger pass catcher totaled a career-high 731 receiving yards. Marshall closed his LSU career with 23 touchdown catches from 2019-20; he has one career NFL score.

The Bears and Rams have accepted low-end returns for former second-round receivers this season, respectively sending Chase Claypool and Van Jefferson to the Dolphins and Falcons in pick-swap deals that sent the wideouts and seventh-rounders elsewhere in exchange for sixths. Both Claypool and Jefferson have outproduced Marshall, though the latter’s rookie deal running through 2024 could put Carolina in position to do a touch better in a potential trade. Though, it should not be expected Marshall will generate too much of a market.

Sitting as the NFL’s only winless team, the 0-6 Panthers also have the door open to trading Donte Jackson and Jeremy Chinn. The latter’s quad injury likely keeps him in Charlotte to close out his contract year, and it would be interesting to see the Panthers move Jackson — considering Jaycee Horn‘s significant hamstring injury. But the Panthers are understandably open for business on certain players, with this season — despite a Steve Wilks-overseen 6-6 finish last year — a clear rebuilding campaign. It will be interesting to see if the Panthers put bigger pieces — like contract-year edge Brian Burns — on the table.

DB Notes: Packers, Chinn, CJGJ, Roby, Rams

October 19th, 2023 at 9:43am CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers do not likely have a starting spot waiting for Eric Stokes upon his return. As we heard in June, the 2021 first-round pick is on track to return as a backup. Green Bay has Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon as its top three corners, and unlike 2022, the team is not planning on changing Douglas’ position to accommodate a cornerback surplus. Douglas moving to safety appears a non-starter, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. Last season, the Packers moved Douglas to a slot role to make room for the returning Alexander. After Stokes’ midseason Lisfranc injury, Douglas moved back to his more natural boundary position.

Stokes, who underwent foot and knee surgeries this offseason, remains on the Packers’ reserve/PUP list. The team designated him for return two weeks ago, setting his activation deadline at Oct. 24. Stokes was running at full speed in July and would have been ready to come back had multiple hamstring issues not slowed him during training camp, Schneidman adds. Stokes fared better as a rookie, when the Pack were down Alexander, than he did last season. Pro Football Focus graded Stokes outside the top 100 among corners last season, and this backup role does not present an ideal rebound opportunity.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

  • Mentioned as a trade candidate last week, Jeremy Chinn now looks likely to finish his contract year in Carolina. The fourth-year Panthers safety sustained a significant quadriceps injury that ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter expects to sideline him for up to six weeks. Despite being a versatile cog who has been a Panthers regular throughout his career, Chinn has seen his playing time dip in Ejiro Evero‘s defense this season. After logging snap rates over 90% from 2020-22, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up has played 52% of Carolina’s defensive snaps. The Panthers prioritized Chinn as a foundational piece before last year’s deadline; his stock has fallen since.
  • Bradley Roby avoided the worst-case scenario after suffering a pectoral injury in Week 6. The recent Eagles addition sustained a pectoral strain, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, who adds the 10th-year cornerback will avoid IR. In the two games since being signed and quickly promoted to the 53-man roster, Roby has played 46% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps. The Eagles have already lost their top slot corner, Avonte Maddox. Roby’s setback represents another blow for the defending NFC champions, but the 31-year-old cover man should be back fairly soon.
  • C.J. Gardner-Johnson is navigating a longer return timetable, suffering a torn pec in Week 2. The Lions safety, who led the NFL in INTs during his Eagles one-off last season, is believed to be months away from coming back — if he is to return at all — according to the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. Pectoral tears often end players’ seasons, so it will be interesting if Gardner-Johnson becomes a true candidate to come off IR down the stretch — perhaps if Detroit makes the playoffs.
  • Rams corner Derion Kendrick faces two misdemeanor charges in connection with his recent gun arrest, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times notes. Arrested Monday morning, Kendrick was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a loaded firearm. While teams regularly deploy players after arrests, waiting for NFL suspensions to come down later, Kendrick did not practice with the Rams upon his release from custody. The 2022 sixth-round pick has started all six Rams games this year. Discipline should be expected, but until a ban surfaces, Kendrick will likely continue to suit up for the team.
  • In a Ravens workout that led to safety Andrew Adams being signed, Eric Rowe received an audition, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. An eight-year veteran, Rowe spent the past four seasons with the Dolphins. Rowe, 31, signed a one-year, $1.32MM Panthers deal this offseason but did not make the team. Carolina released Rowe from its practice squad last month.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/17/23

October 17th, 2023 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed off Giants practice squad: S Alex Cook

Cleveland Browns

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Panthers’ Frank Reich Cedes Play-Calling Duties To OC Thomas Brown

October 16th, 2023 at 10:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of a sixth straight loss to open the season, the Panthers will have a new voice leading the offense on the sidelines. Head coach Frank Reich has ceded play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets.

Reich took charge of guiding Carolina’s offense when he was hired as head coach, a move which led to optimism about the team’s ability to find long-term success on that side of the ball with rookie quarterback Bryce Young and Co. He made it clear on several occasions, however, that he would hand over play-calling duties at some point in the not-too distant future with a well-respected assistant in the form of Brown in place. With Carolina now on the bye week, that time as come.

A report from yesterday indicated Reich would carry on with the current arrangement for the time being, but Week 6 produced another underwhelming performance on offense. The Panthers managed just 188 yards through the air and went a combined 5-for-19 on third and fourth down in a 21-point loss to the Dolphins. Conversations within the organization had led to questions about the team’s ongoing struggles putting up points, something which foreshadowed today’s move. However, Reich confirmed on Monday that this decision was his, not one imposed from the front office.

Brown, 37, has been named as one of the league’s top up-and-coming offensive minds for a few years now. He spent nine years in the college ranks (including three as the University of Miami’s OC) before joining Sean McVay‘s Rams staff in 2020. Brown served as a running backs, and, later, tight ends coach during his time in Los Angeles and he held the title of assistant head coach for his final two years there. His Panthers hire signaled the possibility of handling play-calling duties at the pro level for the first time, and he will now guide the team’s offense moving forward.

Carolina currently sits 23rd in the league in both total and scoring offense, so the team has plenty of room for improvement after the bye. Brown will look to help Young, the top pick in April’s draft, take a step forward from the generally underwhelming start in the NFL he has had so far. Doing so would likely get the team in the win column, and help the front office evaluate a unit which, with the notable exception of veteran wideout Adam Thielen, has not seen signficant production amongst its skill-position group.

A strong showing from Brown on the sidelines would also, of course, help his and Reich’s standing in the organization and quell a perceived need from owner David Tepper to make personnel changes early in the franchise’s latest chapter. Plenty of attention will be on Brown as he looks to prove the confidence placed in him to be well-founded.

NFC Injury Rumors: 49ers, Shenault, Knight

October 15th, 2023 at 8:13pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers saw two big offensive pieces suffer injuries in today’s loss to the Browns. Star offensive tackle Trent Williams had to leave the game for a bit with an ankle injury, while wide receiver Deebo Samuel was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury and didn’t return to the field.

Luckily, Williams, after sustaining a right ankle sprain, was able to return to play and stayed in for most of the remainder of the game. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Williams was wearing an orthopedic walking boot after the game. It’s a good sign that he was able to return, so the boot is likely just to minimize movement and help get the healing process going for a return to play next week.

Samuel, on the other hand, after failing to return to the game, had X-rays done to determine if their was any bone damage in his shoulder. The X-rays were negative, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, but San Francisco still felt the need to hold Samuel out from further activity. He will undergo MRI scans tomorrow to determine if there is any further damage to his shoulder.

Here are a couple of other injury rumors from around the NFC:

  • Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault was carted off the field today in Miami with what appeared to be a leg or ankle injury. Augusta Stone, a team staff writer, later clarified that Shenault had suffered “a fibula injury.” The specification of the exact bone that was the focus of the trauma is not a great sign. At best, it sounds like Shenault could have suffered a painful bone bruise that could keep him off the field for a week or two. Mentioning the bone, though, could indicate a more severe injury like a fracture or even a break, which could necessitate a much longer recovery.
  • The Lions placed backup running back Bam Knight on injured reserve yesterday with their Week 6 transactions. Knight, who saw time as an undrafted rookie with the Jets last season after Breece Hall went down with a torn ACL, was brought to Detroit in order to fill in for an injured David Montgomery last month. Unfortunately, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the shoulder injury that sent Knight to IR will be a season-ending shoulder injury.

Panthers Not Considering Staff Changes; Frank Reich To Remain Play-Caller

October 15th, 2023 at 12:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 15: While Reich has discussed handing play-calling duties to Brown at some point, that responsbility will remain with Reich for now, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. Carolina dropped a 42-24 decision to the Lions last week, but the stripped-down, streamlined offense that the club put in place to simplify matters for Young appeared to pay dividends, as the rookie passer threw for 247 yards and three TDs, both of which were season-high marks.

Interestingly, a source told Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com this week that some members of the Panthers organization approached Reich about the need to be more innovative on the offensive side of the ball, though it is unclear whether those conversations happened before or after Reich decided to simplify the playbook.

What is clear, as Rapoport observes, is that Reich’s future in Carolina is tied to Young’s success. So the HC will need to do whatever it takes to get this year’s No. 1 overall pick to begin living up to his potential.

OCTOBER 12: The NFL’s only 0-5 team, the Panthers are off to a worse start than the one that led to Matt Rhule‘s firing after five games last year. Carolina rallied under interim HC Steve Wilks, going 6-6 and having an unexpected opportunity to take the division lead in Week 17. A loss to the Buccaneers ended that, and the Panthers moved on from Wilks.

Frank Reich beat out Wilks for the HC job, but the two-time playoff-qualifying leader has now lost eight consecutive games dating back to his final stretch running the Colts. In addition to Reich, the Panthers paid up for high-profile assistants. They hired the likes of Ejiro Evero, who interviewed for all five HC jobs this offseason, and Thomas Brown — a Texans HC interviewee — as coordinators. Jim Caldwell, Josh McCown, Duce Staley and the Panthers’ first HC — Dom Capers — are also in place. But the team has not found its footing with Bryce Young at the helm.

Reich said (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) David Tepper has not discussed staff changes with him just yet, though the new Panthers HC confirmed past rumors that the sixth-year owner is frequently involved with football operations.

“Some owners kind of stay away and don’t engage a whole lot. Other owners do. And his philosophy is he’s gonna engage,” Reich said, via Person (subscription required). “Listen, it’s only been a short experience, but it’s been a really good experience. … It hasn’t been fun. I wouldn’t characterize [weekly meetings with Tepper] as fun meetings. But those meetings make me better, and I trust they make us better.”

Meddlesome ownership obviously could sound alarm bells for Reich, who is coming off an eventful final year with perhaps the league’s most active owner (among those not holding GM titles as well). Jim Irsay began to spin back into high gear after the Colts lost as two-touchdown favorites to the then-downtrodden Jaguars to close out the 2021 season. Orders to trade Carson Wentz and then to trade for Matt Ryan emerged, and Irsay then insisted Reich bench Ryan for an unseasoned Sam Ehlinger. Irsay then fired Reich, despite extending him in 2021. The outspoken owner later said he reluctantly extended his five-year HC. The Jeff Saturday and Jonathan Taylor sagas proceeded post-Reich.

Tepper, who bought the team from Jerry Richardson in 2018, has developed a bit of a reputation on this front as well. Although subsequent reports indicated the Panthers came to an agreement on Young, a March report pointed to Tepper’s Young preference over an early coaches’ interest in C.J. Stroud. Before the 2022 season ended, Tepper was believed to be eyeing a move that solved the Panthers’ years-long QB woes. Carolina indeed swung big, trading D.J. Moore and several high-level draft choices for the No. 1 slot.

Tepper also played a lead role in past quarterback pursuits, namely the controversial one surrounding Deshaun Watson — a journey that began after Matthew Stafford nixed a trade to Carolina. Tepper eyed Watson before the dozens of masseuses accused the then-Texans QB of sexual misconduct, and the Panthers revisited trade talks — along with the Dolphins — ahead of the 2021 deadline. While Tepper joined his Saints and Falcons peers in being unwilling to authorize a $230MM guarantee, Watson had eliminated the Panthers earlier due to some uncertainty about their power structure. Months later, the Browns and Panthers haggled about Baker Mayfield‘s contract for months — despite Rhule and Scott Fitterer wanting him in the building early — before the sides closed the deal. A report surfaced around the time of Tepper’s about-face on Rhule that pegged the owner as “emotional” and difficult to work for.

That said, Reich was not in contention for another HC job this offseason and, at 61, the ex-Carolina QB may not have had many more chances as a lead candidate. His second HC opportunity has started quite poorly, with the Panthers holding a minus-53 point differential and lacking a first-round pick next year. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers proceed going forward, especially if the losing streak continues. The Panthers face the Dolphins in Week 6. Reich signed a four-year contract in January. Fitterer’s five-year GM deal runs through the 2025 season.

Panthers Place TE Ian Thomas On IR; Activate TE Stephen Sullivan

October 14th, 2023 at 3:28pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers are trading one tight end from injured reserve for another with today’s transactions. Carolina has opted to send tight end Ian Thomas to IR as he recovers from a calf injury, according to Panthers staff writer Darin Gantt. Reinforcements will arrive swiftly, though, as tight end Stephen Sullivan has been activated off of IR in Thomas’ place.

Injuries are working their way through the roster in Carolina this week. Running back Miles Sanders and safeties Vonn Bell and Xavier Woods may lead the headlines as inactives, but backup tight end Giovanni Ricci has also been ruled out for tomorrow’s game with a shoulder injury, leaving just Hayden Hurst and Tommy Tremble atop the depth chart.

Sullivan will be making his 2023 season-debut his weekend after being placed on IR to start the year. Through three years in the NFL, Sullivan has only reeled in two catches for 46 yards, but he’ll provide some important depth this Sunday.

In addition to the above two moves, the Panthers will be calling up safety Matthias Farley and offensive lineman Justin McCray from the practice squad as standard gameday elevations. With Bell out as a starter, Farley is not only expected to play, but he is also expected to make his first start since 2020. McCray may not get significant playing time, but he will provide some serious depth off the bench as the team prepares to deal with the neck injury of Chandler Zavala, another inactive starter.

Panthers’ Jeremy Chinn, Terrace Marshall, Donte Jackson On Trade Block

October 13th, 2023 at 8:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers have been connected to making an addition in advance of the trade deadline (specifically at the wide receiver position), but the league’s only winless team should be expected to be sellers on the whole. A number of players could soon find themselves out of Carolina as a result.

Two-time Pro Bow edge rusher Brian Burns would of course be the top prize for an acquiring team in any Panthers-related swap, but having an extension worked out would be necessary to justify the trade price required on that front. The Panthers turned down a haul for Burns including two first-round picks from the Rams last season, so another substantial proposal would no doubt be required for serious trade talks to take place. Extension negotiations for the former first-rounder — who is playing on the fifth-year option in 2023 and is thus due for free agency or a franchise tag in March — are on hold.

A trio of other Panthers are available to be had in the near future, however, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Hybrid safety/linebacker Jeremy Chinn, along with wideout Terrace Marshall and cornerback Donte Jackson find themselves on the trade block. Any member of that trio would require far less to acquire than Burns, and they would arrive with varying degrees of expectations on a new team.

Chinn is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he would make for a logical rental candidate on a team with the right scheme to utilize his skillset. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner up eclipsed 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons, and he remained a full-time starter last year (one in which he missed signficant time due to a hamstring injury). Chinn was one of a select few players essentially deemed off-limits ahead of the 2022 deadline, but his playing time has dropped considerably this year in new DC Ejiro Evero‘s 3-4 scheme. A fresh start may be beneficial to team and player.

Marshall, like Jackson, is on the books through 2024. The former had high expectations as a second-round pick, but he has yet to lock down a full-time starting workload to date. The LSU alum seemed to be assured of a role ahead of the campaign by new head coach Frank Reich, but he did not see the field in Week 5 despite dressing. Marshall has totaled 16 catches for 114 scoreless yards while seeing a 64% snap share. Of course, any WR addition on Carolina’s part would threaten to knock him further down the depth chart and make a move sending him elsewhere a logical one.

Unlike the other two, Jackson is not attached to a rookie contract and would require a larger financial investment from an acquiring team. The 27-year-old would be due the balance of his $10.62MM in compensation this year if he were dealt, and his new club would be on the hook for that amount next year as well. Jackson’s 2024 cap hit, though, is set at $15.82MM, something which would take him off certain teams’ radars. Carolina would incur a dead cap charge of $5.2MM this season and next by trading the former second-rounder; only 2024 would yield a net gain in cap space.

Jackson has started all but four of his 68 games, each of which have been spent with the Panthers. He has recorded between two and four interceptions each season, though injuries have ended his last two campaigns. An Achilles tear limited him to nine contests in 2022, but Jackson has returned to full health and logged a starting workload in his four games played this year.

The Panthers are taking a cautious approach with respect to their new-look coaching staff, but changes could be coming on the field if calls on Chinn, Marshall and/or Jackson produce a trade agreement. Other players could be on the move as well, of course, but for now the future of that trio will be worth watching.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/23

October 11th, 2023 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Denver releases Humphrey with the intention of adding him back to the team’s practice squad, filling the spot vacated by wide receiver Michael Bandy yesterday. Plus, with young tight end Greg Dulcich expected to return from injured reserve soon, releasing Humphrey opens up a spot on the active roster.

The Colts’ offensive line has been dealing with a couple injuries, so bringing in Boettger will help improve the line’s depth a bit. Boettger, a former undrafted free agent, spent the first five years of his career in Buffalo. He spent much of that time as a backup but did start 17 games in a two-year stretch from 2020-2022. Veteran starting experience is usually an asset worth having on the bench.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/23

October 10th, 2023 at 6:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

The Panthers already used up their three practice-squad promotions for Dicaprio Bootle, so now the cornerback will be joining the active roster on a full-time basis. The former UDFA out of Nebraska has exclusively played on special teams this season.

Justin Hollins was waived yesterday to make room for running back Patrick Taylor on the active roster. Hollins has nine tackles in four games with Green Bay this season, with the LB splitting his time between defense and special teams. Taylor has also seen the field for four games this season, collecting 59 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches.

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