Tag: Akayleb Evans

Panthers Week 15 inactives: 2 big-name starting defenders active vs. Cowboys

As expected, Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney and CB Jaycee Horn are both up against the Cowboys today.

Despite a smidgeon of doubt, the Carolina Panthers will have two pretty big names in uniform for Week 15.

As expected, outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Jaycee Horn are active for this afternoon’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Both were listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.

Clowney returns after missing out on last week’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a shoulder issue. Horn, who has yet to sit out from a game this season, has been dealing with a bothersome groin.

The Panthers will not, however, have running back and return specialist Raheem Blackshear. Blackshear, whose 705 yards on kickoff returns rank second in the NFL, is down with a chest injury.

As a result, and along with the season-ending ACL tear to rookie Jonathon Brooks, Carolina elevated seventh-year rusher Mike Boone from the practice squad on Saturday. He is expected to back up starter Chuba Hubbard.

Here’s the full list of inactives on the day for the Panthers:

  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • RB Raheem Blackshear
  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • OL Jarrett Kingston
  • DT Sam Roberts
  • S Nick Scott
  • ILB Trevin Wallace

And for the visiting Cowboys:

  • C Cooper Beebe
  • CB Trevon Diggs
  • WR Ryan Flournoy
  • S Juanyeh Thomas
  • DE Tyrus Wheat
  • RB Deuce Vaughn

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Panthers Week 14 inactives: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders active vs. Eagles

The Panthers are expecting to see the return of rookie TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, the team’s third-leading receiver in 2024.

The Carolina Panthers may not have one of their very top defenders at their disposal here in Week 14, but at least they’re getting back one of their top pass catchers.

As expected, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is active and is expected to make his return for today’s matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The rookie was carted off from Week 12’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after sustaining a scary neck injury and did not play the next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sanders is the third-leading receiver for the Panthers this season, behind only fellow rookie Xavier Legette and the departed Diontae Johnson—who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 29. The 2024 fourth-round selection has reeled in 29 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown.

Carolina will not, however, have outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney—the team leader in sacks (3.5) and pressures (30). The three-time Pro Bowler, who was listed as questionable for the contest on Friday, was downgraded to out on Saturday due to a knee injury.

Here is the full list of inactives on the afternoon for the Panthers:

  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • OLB Jadeveon Clowney
  • WR Jalen Coker
  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • CB Caleb Farley
  • OL Jarrett Kingston
  • S Jammie Robinson
  • S Nick Scott

And for the host Eagles:

  • S Reed Blankenship
  • S Sydney Brown
  • WR Britain Covey
  • OL Nick Gates
  • G Trevor Keegan
  • OT Darian Kinnard
  • QB Tanner McKee (Emergency QB)

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Panthers Week 13 inactives: 7 players out vs. Buccaneers

A pair of standout rookie pass catchers headline today’s inactives for the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers will have their best pass rusher for this afternoon’s NFC South showdown.

Despite missing a pair of practices leading into today’s Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is active for the contest. The three-time Pro Bowler, who is dealing with a knee injury, returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday and was listed as questionable going into the weekend.

Clowney has recorded 2.5 sacks and a team-leading 27 pressures over nine games.

He will not be joined, as expected, by rookie pass catchers Jalen Coker and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. Coker will now miss his second straight game due to a quadriceps injury while Sanders, who was carted off from last Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, is out with a neck injury.

Wide receiver Dan Chisena and tight end Stephen Sullivan were elevated from the practice squad on Saturday to provide depth for the absences.

Here’s the full list of inactives for the Panthers:

  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • WR Jalen Coker
  • DL Jaden Crumedy
  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • OL Jarrett Kingston
  • S Jammie Robinson
  • TE Ja’Tavion Sanders

And for the Buccaneers:

  • DL Earnest Brown IV
  • TE Devin Culp
  • CB Tyrek Funderburk
  • QB Michael Pratt
  • OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
  • CB Tykee Smith

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Panthers’ updated roster following Monday’s addition of CB Akayleb Evans

The Panthers swapped out their team leader in sacks for a former Vikings CB on Monday.

The Carolina Panthers swapped out their team leader in sacks for a former Minnesota Vikings fourth-round pick on Monday.

Coming into the fold will be cornerback Akayleb Evans, who has amassed 17 starts over 32 NFL games since 2022. And on the way out is veteran outside linebacker Charles Harris.

Here’s an updated look at the team’s 53-man roster following the moves:

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Panthers part ways with former 1st-round pick, team leader in sacks

The Panthers have announced the corresponding move to their addition of CB Akayleb Evans.

The Carolina Panthers have announced not only their addition of cornerback Akayleb Evans, but also their corresponding move to make room for it.

To open a spot for Evans on the 53-man roster, the team has waived outside linebacker Charles Harris. The 29-year-old veteran has appeared in nine games for the Panthers this season.

A two-time Second-team All-SEC honoree at the University of Missouri, Harris was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. He’d go on to split his first eight pro campaigns between the Dolphins, the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions—amassing 16.5 sacks over 90 games.

Carolina signed Harris back on Sept. 11. He departs the roster in a tie for the team lead in sacks (three) with defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson.

Harris became dispensable for the Panthers in light of the return of fellow outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who has taken over starting duties for the last two weeks.

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Panthers awarded claim on former Vikings CB

The Panthers have been awarded their waiver claim on former Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans.

The Carolina Panthers are looking to make an addition to their secondary.

As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport on Monday, the team has been awarded their waiver claim cornerback Akayleb Evans. The 25-year-old was waived by the Minnesota Vikings this past Saturday.

Evans, who split his college ball between the University of Tulsa and the University of Missouri between 2017 and 2021, was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. He’d go on to play in 10 games, with two starts, as a rookie before his first pro campaign was cut short due to a concussion.

2023 saw Evans start in each of his 15 games for Minnesota. He recorded 65 combined tackles, one interception, seven passes defensed and three forced fumbles.

Before being waived ahead of the Vikings’ Week 12 matchup against the Chicago Bears, Evans appeared in seven games this season. 83 of his 86 total snaps in 2024 have come on special teams.

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Vikings waive cornerback Akayleb Evans ahead of Week 12 against Bears

Akayleb Evans, who started the season with meaningful reps, is now being waived by the Vikings ahead of their Week 12 matchup.

The Minnesota Vikings secondary has proven to be an asset to Brian Flores’s defense goals this season. His pressures up front have allowed the defensive backs to take advantage of rushed throws all year, but not everyone has.

Akayleb Evans, who started the season with meaningful reps, is now being waived by the Vikings ahead of their Week 12 matchup with the Bears.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media first reported the news on Saturday morning.

Ben Goessling of The Athletic pointed out that Evans had been relegated to special teams work in recent weeks, but his release was still a bit of a shock. The Vikings had five cornerbacks under contract beyond the season, but with Evans’s release, they now have just four.

The team has been bringing back players from the injured reserve, with the next one up being tight end Nick Muse. This could lead to his elevation to the active roster or to undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern seeing his first NFL action.

Blake Cashman and Akayleb Evans miss consecutive days of practice

For the Minnesota Vikings, one significant injury and another contributing player could be disastrous heading into the Lions game.

The Minnesota Vikings are a few days away from their biggest game of the season between themselves and the Detroit Lions. Not many things can ruin a team’s season, but injuries can certainly put one on the track to being that way.

For the Minnesota Vikings, one significant injury and another contributing player could be disastrous heading into the Lions game.

Blake Cashman, the team’s leading tackler, has missed the last two days of practice with a turf toe injury. Andrew Kramer with The Star Tribune reported earlier this week that he would miss the game, and it is more likely to be a reality. His absence could make a major difference as the team looks to stop Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Cornerback Akayleb Evans has also missed the last two days of practice with a hip injury. The defensive backs and their rotation have been very successful for the defense. Brian Flores could lose one of those critical contributors, which would cause the defense to run short-handed at two levels.

This will be a game where Brian Flores proves how well he can orchestrate this defense.

The Vikings 2022 draft class has not gone the way Minnesota’s then-rookie GM hoped

The Vikings 2022 draft class has not gone the way Minnesota’s then-rookie GM, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hoped, with the top two picks gone already

The New York Jets announced they have signed Lewis Cine to the team’s practice squad. Cine jumps to the Jets after the team that drafted the Georgia safety in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings, pulled the plug on the Lewis Cine experiment.

It’s a frustrating ending to the draft marriage between Cine and the Vikings, one that was quite positively viewed back at in 2022. A devastating leg injury ruined Cine’s rookie season, and he’s never recovered enough for the liking of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Cine played in 10 total games in Minnesota, logging exactly one snap per game on defense. No other team claimed Cine on waivers this week.

Cine was the first-ever pick for Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, then a rookie general manager running his initial draft. Obviously, the injury to Cine was unforeseeable, but that whole first draft class from Adofo-Mensah in Minnesota has not gone as planned back in 2022.

1st round, S Lewis Cine: Waived at the 2024 roster deadline.

2nd round, CB Andrew Booth: Traded to Dallas earlier this summer. Two starts in 23 games over two seasons, 20 total tackles and one PD.

2nd round, OG Ed Ingram: Started 32 games at right guard and will continue to start for Minnesota.

3rd round, LB Brian Asamoah: Zero starts, plays almost exclusively on special teams

4th round, CB Akayleb Evans: Started 32 games and coming off a season where he notched 65 tackles, 7 PDs and forced three fumbles.

5th round, DT Esezi Otomewo: Waived after playing 89 snaps on defense as a rookie,

5th round, RB Ty Chandler: Ran for 461 yards and 3 TDs in 2023 while also catching 21 passes. He’ll be the No. 2 RB behind Aaron Jones in 2024.

6th round, OL Vederian Lowe: Traded during the 2023 roster cutdowns to the Patriots for a 2024 6th-round pick.

6th round, WR Jalen Nailor: 12 catches for 208 yards and a TD in 15 games thus far, though Nailor is poised to see the field more in 2024.

7th round, TE Nick Muse: Two offensive snaps in 2023, caught one pass for 12 yards in two years.

Ingram, Evans and Chandler ease some of the sting of those top two picks not working out, but teams that miss on premium picks are always at a major disadvantage. That’s been the development for Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class.

Minnesota Vikings beat writer believes team will trade Akayleb Evans

With roster cutdown day just a day away, will the Minnesota Vikings look to trade cornerback Akayleb Evans? One beat writer thinks so.

Tomorrow is the official roster cutdown deadline in the NFL. By tomorrow afternoon, every team in the league needs to have their roster trimmed down from 90 players to the 53-man roster. A lot of that player movement has already occurred, but a lot of movement has yet to happen. And that movement doesn’t necessarily just mean players being waived or released.

Trades are a real possibility as teams look to get a return on players they would otherwise cut, and other teams look to add players without competing with the entire league on the free-agent market. For the Minnesota Vikings, one of those players who could be enticing trade bait is cornerback Akayleb Evans.

According to Alec Lewis, Minnesota Vikings beat writer for The Athletic, it’s likely that the Vikings are looking to trade the third-year corner. Trading Evans would free up a roster spot for someone like Dwight McGlothern, who has been was a standout during training camp and the preseason.

More than allowing a talented young player a shot at the roster, though, if the Vikings can flip Evans for a late-round draft pick, it could improve their flexibility going into the 2025 NFL Draft. As things stand today, the Vikings only have three picks in the upcoming draft. They’re likely to receive a compensatory pick for free agents lost, but those have yet to be announced.

Flipping Evans for a draft pick would help the team feel slightly better about their lot going into the draft, and give them a bit more ability to maneuver during it. It’s still not much, but it’s a start. And that could be further improved if the team looks to, and is successful in, trading fellow defensive back Lewis Cine.