Panthers Sign Isaiah Simmons To Active Roster, Place Trevin Wallace On IR
Isaiah Simmons is set to finish the season on Carolina’s active roster. The former top-10 pick has been signed from the Panthers’ practice squad, per a team announcement. 
Simmons has been a gameday elevation three times this season. As a result, he needed to be promoted to the active roster at some point to continue seeing game action down the stretch. With fellow linebacker Trevin Wallace done for the season, a clear path for Simmons to close out the year on the 53-man roster exists. In a corresponding move, Wallace has been moved to injured reserve.
Losing Wallace has left the Panthers without a starter at the second level of their defense. Claudin Cherelus is positioned to continue as a first-team presence alongside Christian Rozeboom for the final two weeks of the regular season and (if applicable) the playoffs. Carolina enters Sunday’s action atop the NFC South, and a win against the Seahawks coupled with a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins would clinch the division.
Simmons has logged only one defensive snap during his three Panthers appearances in 2025. The 27-year-old has been a key presence on special teams, however, handling a 68% snap share in that regard. A similar workload can be expected moving forward as Carolina prepares for a contest in Seattle and a potential winner-take-all game against Tampa Bay depending on how this week’s results shake out.
Simmons was unable to find success at safety or linebacker during his time with the Cardinals. The Clemson product managed to handle a rotational defensive workload with the Giants for the 2023 and ’24 campaigns but joined the Packers this past offseason. After failing to survive roster cuts with Green Bay, Simmons remained on the open market until late November when he signed with Carolina. As a pending free agent, he will look to boost his value slightly in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Panthers LB Trevin Wallace Underwent Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace recently underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, head coach Dave Canales announced on Friday (via The Athletic’s Joe Person).
Wallace, 22, started 12 games for the Panthers this season. He missed Weeks 11 and 12 with a shoulder injury and returned in Week 13 before going down once more in Week 15. Even if Carolina wins the NFC South and makes the playoffs, Wallace’s surgery will not allow him to even attempt a speedy return in the postseason.
Carolina’s defense has statistically been better than their offense, and Wallace has played a large role in their success partnering with Christian Rozeboom in the middle of the defense. Wallace ranks fourth on the team in tackles (61), tackles for loss (five), passes defended (four), and sacks (two).
The 2024 third-round pick earned a starting role partway through his rookie year, but was sidelined for the last four weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury. It is unknown if Wallace’s shoulder problems are all related.
Canales said that third-year linebacker Claudin Cherelus would continue starting in Wallace’s place. He has 32 tackles on the year – 22 of which game in his three starts – but has not made many splash plays. He has particularly struggled in coverage, allowing receptions on 12 of his 13 targets for 155 yards (92.3% completion rate, 11.9 yards per attempt, 116.3 passer rating). Those issues may cause Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to take Cherelus off the field in obvious passing situations and run more dime packages with an additional safety.
Panthers Injury Updates: Brown, Tremble, Barno, Wallace
After missing virtually all of the 2024 season, Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown is aiming for a full return to the field during training camp later this summer, per Joseph Person of The Athletic.
Brown tore his meniscus in Week 1 and underwent season-ending surgery that has kept him limited through spring practices, though he did participate in “walk-throughs and light side work” during mandatory minicamp, according to Person. Brown originally stated a desire to be ready for the 2025 regular season, but his timeline appears to have moved up.
Brown’s injury was particularly disappointing after a career-best 2023 season. He led all defensive linemen with 103 total tackles and was named to his first Pro Bowl, earning him a four-year, $96MM extension from the Panthers in April 2024. While he has never been a prolific pass rusher, Brown’s size and power has consistently commanded double-teams and created opportunities for his teammates. His impact was evident last season, as Carolina’s run defense ranked dead-last in his absence.
The Panthers spent significant resources this offseason on defensive line depth, which should allow them to manage Brown’s usage more carefully coming off a major injury. He played a whopping 940 defensive snaps in 2023 (89% of the team’s total) and was on the field for almost every play before his injury last year. With new teammates Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, and Cam Jackson ready to share the load, Derrick Brown can take a lower snap share to stay fresh and healthy for the entire season.
Here are a few updates on other Panthers returning from injuries:
- Tight end Tommy Tremble missed five games last season due to a lingering back injury that led to offseason surgery in May. He is expected to start training camp on the active/PUP list, according to Person. Youngsters Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans will have a chance to carve out a role in the Panthers’ offense during Tremble’s absence.
- Edge rusher Amare Barno may not be ready by training camp after a “clean-out procedure on his knee,” writes Person. Barno started the 2024 season on the PUP list and only appeared in five games before another injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
- Linebacker Trevin Wallace returned from offseason shoulder surgery to participate in the Panthers’ spring practices, per Jeff Hawkins of The Charlotte Post. The 2024 third-rounder emerged as a starter as a rookie before landing on injured reserve in December. With Shaq Thompson departing for the Bills in free agency, Wallace is expected to start alongside veteran Josey Jewell in 2025.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/24
Here are the latest moves from the around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: OL Tylan Grable
- Waived: DE Casey Toohill
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Trevin Wallace, LB Claudin Cherelus
- Waived: DB Anthony Brown
- Signed to active roster: WR Dan Chisena, LB Jacoby Windmon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: K Cade York
Detroit Lions
- Signed from Jaguars’ practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Hampton
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on commissioners/suspended list: DE Janarius Robinson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: LS Jake McQuaide
- Placed on IR: WR Grant DuBose
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB Ambry Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Artie Burns
After another round of injuries in Week 15, the Lions signed Pittman off the Jaguars’ practice squad to bolster their linebacker room. The five-year veteran appeared in just one game for Jacksonville this season, which coincidentally came against the Lions in Week 11. Pittman has primarily played special teams in his NFL career and will continue that role in Detroit.
The Raiders will be without Robinson for the rest of the season after he received a three-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
The 49ers placed Thomas on injured reserve after initial roster cuts, but never designated him to return. He is “now healthy and, as a former third-round pick out of Michigan, is expected to garner interest,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Thomas appeared in 42 games, including 11 starts, in San Francisco, but never developed into a consistent starting corner as the team hoped.
Panthers Sign Entire 2024 Draft Class
Thursday’s frenzy of draft-slot deals continues, and the Panthers are knocking this task off in one session. Carolina agreed to terms with its entire 2024 draft class tonight, locking in seven rookie contracts.
Xavier Legette headlines the list. Although the Panthers did not hold a first-round pick coming into the draft (thanks to the Bryce Young trade), they will have a fifth-year option on Legette’s contract by virtue of trading up one spot to No. 32 for the South Carolina prospect. The wide receiver’s rookie deal will be fully guaranteed.
The Panthers and Patriots both sent the Bills offers for No. 32, after Buffalo had traded down from 28, and Legette is believed to have been New England’s target as well. Buffalo chose Carolina’s offer, which included the Panthers sending over a fifth-round pick to climb from No. 33 to No. 32. Legette will join 2023 second-round wideout Jonathan Mingo, with the Panthers using two picks in the 30s — Mingo went 39th last year — to supplement veterans Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. With Thielen’s guarantees done after 2024 and Johnson’s Steelers-constructed extension expiring after this season, Legette and Mingo profile as the Panthers’ long-term Young targets.
Catching teams’ eye partially because he clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 227 pounds, Legette was not on the first-round radar for much of his Gamecocks career. While lauded for his blocking, Legette did not eclipse 200 receiving yards in any of his first four South Carolina seasons. Teaming with Spencer Rattler once again in 2023, Legette broke through for 1,255 yards and seven TD receptions. He and Mingo will give Young two big-bodied targets, with the latter checking in at 220 pounds.
Carolina traded second-round picks in the 2023 and ’25 drafts to obtain Young, but the team came into this draft with two picks in Round 2 thanks to the Brian Burns trade. That gave the Panthers the No. 39 pick in this draft. GM Dan Morgan accepted a Rams offer to move down to No. 52, picking up a fifth-round pick and a 2025 second-rounder in the process. Carolina then packaged that fifth-rounder (along with another 2024 fifth) to Indianapolis to climb to No. 46, making Jonathon Brooks this year’s first running back selected.
Joining a backfield housing Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard, Brooks comes to Charlotte after a November 2023 ACL tear. The Bijan Robinson Longhorns RB1 successor is expected to be cleared by training camp, but his 2023 injury undoubtedly affected his draft stock. This draft did not offer the type of RB prospects last year’s did, but another new Panthers regime dived in by making Brooks the only back chosen in the first or second round. Robinson’s former backup totaled 1,139 rushing yards (6.1 per tote) and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.
The Panthers did not see their Sanders investment pay off last year, and they benched the ex-Super Bowl starter for Hubbard. Sanders’ guarantees wrap after 2024, and Hubbard’s rookie deal expires after this season. This points to Brooks having a route to being Carolina’s unquestioned RB1 by 2025, should he prove healthy following this rehab process. This year, however, may feature a committee approach in Carolina.
It will be interesting to learn how well Brooks’ side did regarding guarantees, as second-round slot deals are producing the most wiggle room as of late. With the rookie contracts done, here are the drafted rookies set to develop under the Panthers’ coaching staff this offseason:
- Round 1, No. 32 (from Chiefs through Bills): Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 46 (from Colts): Jonathon Brooks (RB, Texas) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 72 (from Jets): Trevin Wallace (LB, Kentucky) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 101: Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 157 (from Browns through Vikings): Chau Smith-Wade (CB, Washington State) (signed)
- Round 6: No. 200 (from Cowboys through Texans and Bills): Jaden Crumedy (DT, Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 240 (from Steelers): Michael Barrett (LB, Michigan) (signed)