Panthers Reduce Roster To 53
The Panthers cut down their roster to 53 players today, but in the process, they ruled out a key offensive lineman for at least a month:
Released:
- OL Michael Jordan
- OL Justin McCray
- S Eric Rowe
- WR Javon Wims
Waived:
- OL Deonte Brown
- RB Spencer Brown
- OL JD Direnzo
- LB Ace Eley
- LB Kobe Jones
- LB Eku Leota
- CB Mac McCain
- CB Herb Miller
- CB Mark Milton
- WR Shi Smith
- CB Keith Taylor
- OL Sam Tecklenburg
- LB Jordan Thomas
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
- WR Josh Vann
- DL Raequan Williams
Placed on PUP:
Placed on IR:
Austin Corbett continues to rehab from a torn ACL and has been sitting on PUP throughout the preseason. The transaction means the starting guard can’t be activated to the active roster until Week 5, but he may need longer to get into form. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe tweets that the team is hoping to have him back midway through the season. Rookie Chandler Zavala will likely slide into the starting lineup while Corbett is sidelined.
Eric Rowe has 100 games of experience in stints with the Eagles, Patriots, and Dolphins. He’s spent the past four seasons in Miami, starting 39 of his 63 appearances. This included a 2022 campaign where he got into 14 games (six starts), finishing with 56 tackles and a pair of sacks. The two-time Super Bowl champ joined the Panthers back in April.
Panthers Announce 13 UDFA Signings
The Panthers won’t officially sign their undrafted rookies until next week’s minicamp, but the organization still went ahead and announced their 13-man UDFA class:
- DE Jalen Redmond (Oklahoma)
- OLB Travez Moore (Arizona State)
- OLB Eku Leota (Auburn)
- ILB Austin Ajiake (UNLV)
- ILB Bumper Pool (Arkansas)
- CB Colby Richardson (LSU)
- CB Mark Milton (Baylor)
- CB Rejzohn Wright (Oregon State)
- S Nico Bolden (Kent State)
- RB Cam Peoples (Appalachian State)
- WR Josh Vann (South Carolina)
- OT Ricky Lee (North Carolina A&T)
- OG Nash Jensen (North Dakota State)
The Panthers were busy adding linebackers, signing four players at the position. Bumper Pool is the most notable of the bunch, with the linebacker having a productive collegiate career at Arkansas (441 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks). Pool likely would have heard his name called during the draft if not for a hip injury that derailed his final season. Meanwhile, Eku Leota could carve out a role on the edge for Chicago, with the Auburn product compiling 15.5 sacks during his college career.
Cam Peoples was a surprise UDFA after he collected 2,830 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns during his time at Appalachian State. At 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, the rookie profiles as more of a power back, a role that he could easily fill with Carolina. Josh Vann is now the third South Carolina wideout on the Panthers’ roster, joining Damiere Byrd and Shi Smith.