Wes Horton

Panthers DE Wes Horton To Retire

Wes Horton will be the latest long-term Carolina cog to depart the team this offseason. The seven-year Panthers contributor announced (via Instagram) he will retire.

A Panthers defensive end for most of Ron Rivera‘s tenure, Horton cited myriad injuries as one of the reasons he will leave the game at age 30. Horton played in 83 games for the Panthers since the 2013 season.

I’ve been back and forth on my future playing football, and after coming to a conclusion, I will be stepping away from the game of football,” Horton wrote. “The little injuries I’ve accumulated over the years have finally caught up to me, and when weighing the risk, I’d rather preserve what’s left of my body.”

While Horton’s retirement will not register on the same level Luke Kuechly‘s did, his reasons are similar. Horton bounced on and off Carolina’s roster in recent years. In the past three even years, Horton operated as a full- or part-time starter. He started 15 games in 2014, 10 in 2016 and eight in 2018. The former UDFA out of USC signed with the Panthers in October 2016 and this past November. Although Horton signed with the Saints earlier in 2019, he only saw action for the Panthers in his career.

Horton will finish his career with 15.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. He announced he will return to his high school alma mater, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) to coach the school’s defensive line.

Panthers Sign DE Wes Horton

The Panthers have reunited with Wes Horton, announcing today that they’ve signed the free agent defensive end. Carolina already had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary.

Horton, 29, has essentially spent his entire career with the Panthers. He signed a free agent deal with the Saints in May, but he never actually appeared in a game for New Orleans and was released after Week 1. Since then, Horton worked out for the Giants but otherwise hasn’t drawn much interest on the free agent market.

Horton originally signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Over the next six years, Horton worked mainly in a rotational role, playing between 25% and 50% of Carolina’s defensive snaps. His best season came in 2017, when he appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and posted 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Now that he’s back in Carolina, Horton will likely be counted to contribute in that reserve role once again. He’ll play behind fellow edge rushers Brian Burns, Bruce Irvin while also chipping in on special teams.

NFL Workout Updates: 10/22/19

Here is Tuesday’s summary from the workout circuit:

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/19

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Saints Sign DE Wes Horton

Wes Horton has found a new home. The veteran defensive end has signed with the Saints, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).

The former undrafted free agent out of USC had spent his entire six-year career with the Panthers. After starting 27 games through his first four years in the NFL, Horton transitioned to more of a backup role in 2017 and 2018. This past season, the 29-year-old compiled 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 16 games. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance, as they ranked Horton 102nd among 103 edge defenders.

In New Orleans, Horton will be joining a talented defensive end corps that includes All-Pro Cameron Jordan, All-Rookie Marcus Davenport, and free agent addition Mario Edwards Jr.. Horton will likely be competing with the likes of Trey Hendrickson for reserve snaps.

Panthers Re-Sign DE Wes Horton

The Panthers announced they’ve re-signed defensive end Wes Horton. It’s a two-year deal for the veteran. Exact terms of the deal are not yet known. Wes Horton

[RELATED: Panthers Re-Sign DE Mario Addison]

Horton, 27, appeared in eleven games for the team last season, including ten starts. he finished out the year with eleven total tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. When averaged out per game, the 2016 season amounted to his most productive yet.

Horton first made a name for himself in 2013 when he joined the Panthers as an undrafted rookie. He wound up making 15 starts for Carolina in 2014 while Greg Hardy was suspended. Horton might not be a starter for Carolina when the 2017 season opens, but they’re probably planning on significant playing time for him even if he’s a reserve.

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. Wes Horton

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.

Saints Work Out Handful Of LB/DEs

The Saints auditioned a crop of front seven players today, including one — former first-round pick Bjoern Werner — that was already reported earlier today. The full list is below, all courtesy of Mike Triplett and Field Yates of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted:Danny Lansanah (vertical)

Lansanah, 31, had spent the last two seasons and change with Tampa Bay before spending a week with the Dolphins in August. Over the last two years, Lansanah appeared in every regular season game for the Bucs, making 22 total starts. In 2014, Lansanah recorded three interceptions, eight pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and 81 total tackles. His production tailed off last season, though he still notched 47 tackles, one sack, and four pass breakups.

Horton, Lotulelei, Moses, and Mulamba also have prior NFL experience, and Moses leads the pack, as he’s appeared in 45 games with the Packers and Chiefs (mostly on special teams duty). Horton, meanwhile, started 15 games for the Panthers as recently as 2014.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panthers Re-Sign Wes Horton

Defensive end Wes Horton was one of two players who finished the 2015 season on the Panthers’ practice squad but didn’t sign a reserve/futures contract with the team earlier this week. Two days later though, Horton has announced (via Twitter) that he has indeed signed a one-year deal to remain in Carolina.Wes Horton

“No way I could walk away from an organization as special as this,” Horton said in his tweet.

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. The Panthers cut from their 53-man roster in December, then re-signed him to their practice squad at the start of the postseason before ultimately re-signing him today to a new deal for 2016.

Horton, 26, will likely have to show during training camp and the preseason that he deserves a roster spot and playing time for the ’16 Panthers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.