Tag: Azizi Hearn

Panthers sign rookie LB back to practice squad on Tuesday

With injuries to both of their starting middle linebackers, the Panthers signed back a familiar face on Tuesday.

Since they’re suddenly quite little in the middle, the Carolina Panthers brought back a familiar face at linebacker on Tuesday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed rookie Jackson Mitchell to their practice squad. Mitchell, who initially joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent this past spring, spent the offseason as a member of the roster.

Mitchell’s return follows the news of this past Sunday’s injuries to starting middle linebackers Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell. Thompson tore his Achilles tendon in the Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will be out for the remainder of the season while Jewell is expected to miss some time with hamstring and groin issues.

Head coach Dave Canales talked about the long-term loss of Thompson yesterday.

“I’m just sick for Shaq,” Canales told reporters. “A guy that really just cares so much and plays with so much passion. A vocal leader. Somebody’s who had my back through this process as I get my feet underneath me as a first-time head coach.”

To make room for Mitchell on the practice squad, the Panthers released cornerback Azizi Hearn.

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Panthers work out 4 players on Tuesday

The Panthers worked out four cornerbacks on Tuesday—and one of those players came away with a deal.

The Carolina Panthers had a clear agenda on Tuesday.

As noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston yesterday afternoon, the team worked out four cornerbacks—Kyron Brown, A.J. Green (no, not that one), Azizi Hearn and Shemar Jean-Charles. The Panthers would later announce the signing of Hearn, who was added to the practice squad along with defensive lineman DeShawn Williams.

An Oceanside, Calif. native, Hearn began his collegiate career at the University of Arizona in 2017. He’d go on to play in 12 games for the Wildcats during the 2018 campaign—recording 26 combined tackles and one pass defensed.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder would later transfer to the University of Wyoming for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 campaigns, and then to UCLA for 2022. He appeared in 45 contests over those four years.

Hearn proceeded to hit the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. After he was released at the end of the summer, he signed on to the New England Patriots’ practice squad for the season.

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Panthers sign 2 players to active roster, 2 to practice squad on Tuesday

The Panthers made a series of moves on Tuesday.

The Carolina Panthers made a series of moves on Tuesday.

In addition to placing Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown on the season-ending injured reserve, the team signed two players to their active roster and two to their practice squad.

Joining the former group is running back Mike Boone and cornerback Lonnie Johnson, both of whom were elevated from the practice squad for this past Sunday’s regular-season opener. Boone and Johnson played primarily on special teams, with Boone getting four rushing attempts in the late stages of the 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Their newly-vacated spots on the practice squad will be filled by defensive lineman DeShawn Williams and cornerback Azizi Hearn. Williams spent the 2023 season with the Panthers—starting in 10 of his 16 outings.

To help make room on the active roster for their additions, the Panthers waived outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff—one of the six players claimed by the team following initial roster cutdowns a few weeks ago. Sheriff was also one of just four outside linebackers on the active roster.

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Injury-riddled Patriots might have to get creative at cornerback

With Jonathan Jones ruled out and Shaun Wade listed as questionable, the Patriots might have to get creative at cornerback on Sunday.

Injuries at cornerback have the New England Patriots on the brink of desperation in the defensive backfield, ahead of a tough matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Marcus Jones and Jack Jones are both on injured reserve. Jonathan Jones was ruled out for the road trip on Saturday. Shaun Wade is expected to make the trip, but he’s listed as questionable to play with a shoulder injury.

That leaves the Patriots with rookie Christian Gonzalez and Myles Bryant as their primary healthy options.

So far, the team has been able to disguise the injuries with Gonzalez’s elite play, along with Bryant making legitimate strides of improvement. But it’s only a matter of time before the injuries catch up to the unit, and the wheels could potentially fall off without a great backup plan in Week 4.

The Patriots could call up Azizi Hearns or Breon Borders from their practice squad, or they could get even more creative and move converted safety Jalen Mills back to cornerback for the game.

Given the opponent and incredible depth they already have at safety, it might be smarter for the Patriots to do the latter. Keep in mind, this is all assuming Wade isn’t healthy enough to play.

The Patriots also have rookie Ameer Speed on the roster, but he’s mostly been involved with special teams. It could prove risky to match him up defensively against an elite football team with a plethora of receiving talent.

Even with all of the injuries, the defense hasn’t broken three weeks into the season. There’s reason to believe they can weather the storm just a little bit longer.

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New mystery player at Patriots practice identified on Thursday

There was a mystery player at Thursday’s practice wearing the No. 42 jersey for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots had a new player at practice on Thursday wearing a No. 42 jersey. Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, that player was cornerback Azizi Hearn.

Hearn played with Patriots rookie offensive lineman Atonio Mafi at UCLA last season.

New England is undoubtedly looking for cornerback depth, and they are hard at work trying to fill out the position. One of those moves include them signing Breon Borders to fill a practice-squad spot on Thursday.

The Patriots recognize the need for a strong secondary, as they begin to enter the more challenging part of their schedule.

One has to wonder how Hearn will play a role for the Patriots moving forward. At the very least, this signing gives New England options at a position where having flexibility is important.

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