Panthers announce 5 moves before Week 6 matchup vs. Falcons

The Panthers have signed OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. to their active roster.

Well, it seems as though Marquis Haynes Sr. is game-ready.

The Carolina Panthers announced on Saturday that they have signed the seventh-year outside linebacker to their active roster. Haynes Sr., who spent all six of his previous seasons with the organization, returned as a member of the practice squad on Oct. 4.

With the team’s top pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney considered doubtful for tomorrow’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, head coach Dave Canales talked about the possibility of elevating Haynes Sr. and/or fellow veteran Shaq Lawson from the practice squad for Week 6.

“Know how to use their hands,” Canales said of the two on Friday. “They got a plan for playing the run game, playing the pass game. Nice toolboxes in the pass rush, and those things. So again, it’s just a matter of getting eyes on them and feeling comfortable about them being ready to play football.”

Haynes Sr. appeared in 71 games for the Panthers between 2018 and 2023. He amassed 99 combined tackles, 14.0 sacks and four fumble recoveries.

Carolina also added tight end Ian Thomas to the active roster. Thomas began the regular season on injured reserve due to a calf issue.

Joining Haynes Sr. and Thomas in uniform tomorrow will be offensive lineman Brandon Walton and defensive lineman T.J. Smith—both of whom have been elevated from the practice squad.

Additionally, to help make some room on the roster, the Panthers placed center Austin Corbett on season-ending injured reserve with his biceps tear.

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Panthers updated 17-man practice squad entering Week 1

The Panthers added some interesting faces to their practice squad over the past few days.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is bringing in a familiar face, at least to him.

As first reported by Joe Person of The Athletic this past Friday, the Panthers signed quarterback John Wolford to their practice squad. The 28-year-old veteran was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season, when Canales served as the team’s offensive coordinator during their NFC South championship campaign.

Wolford spent four years with the Los Angeles Rams as well, crossing paths with a few current Carolina coaches including defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The Panthers also officially added wide receiver Deon Cain, offensive lineman Brandon Walton and former track star Praise Olatoke—who will account as the 17th member of the group by way of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

So, let’s give you an updated look at the team’s practice squad . . .

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Panthers sign 2, release 3 from practice squad on Friday

The Panthers officially announced a handful of moves to their practice squad on Friday.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of moves to their practice squad.

As announced on Friday, the team has signed wide receiver Deon Cain and offensive tackle Brandon Walton to the group. Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer was first with the news earlier this morning.

Cain, a Clemson Tiger, was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He’s also picked up stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and, most recently, the Buffalo Bills.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder played a few seasons for the USFL/UFL’s Birmingham Stallions as well. He was a league champion in both 2023 and 2024.

Walton comes over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he crossed paths with Panthers head coach Dave Canales and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder appeared in 15 games for the Bucs between 2022 and 2023, with most of his snaps coming at the left tackle position.

To make room for the additions, the Panthers released guard Mason Brooks, defensive tackle Walter Palmore and safety Alex Cook—who played in 10 games for Carolina last season.

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Panthers reportedly adding 2 new players to practice squad

The Panthers are reportedly set to sign a pair of new players to their practice squad.

The Carolina Panthers may not be done with the construction of their practice squad this week.

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the team intends to sign wide receiver Deon Cain and offensive lineman Brandon Walton to the group. Both players were waived on Thursday.

Cain, who attended nearby Clemson University, was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound pass catcher has since chalked up stops with four other NFL organizations—including the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Philadelphia Eagles and, most recently, the Buffalo Bills.

His best pro ball has come as a member of the of USFL/UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Cain was a league champion in 2023, when he was named the USFL championship game’s Most Valuable Player, and in 2024.

Walton, a Clearwater, Fla. native and Florida Atlantic product, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound tackle, who was let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after three seasons, has prior experience with Panthers head coach Dave Canales and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert.

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Bucs sign pair of free agents to 1-year deals

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed two of their exclusive rights free agents to one-year contracts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed wide receiver Deven Thompkins and offensive lineman Brandon Walton to one-year contracts, the team announced Tuesday.

Thompkins and Walton were both set to become exclusive rights free agents this offseason. As the team release notes, “exclusive rights free agents are players with expiring contracts and two or fewer seasons of accrued free agency credit that are not allowed to negotiate with any other team.”

Thompkins, an undrafted free agent out of Utah State in 2023, has flashed playmaking ability with impressive speed on both offense and special teams, despite being undersized.

Walton was signed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2021, and has spent most of his time in Tampa Bay on the practice squad.

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Steelers tryouts: Pittsburgh had visit with FAU tackle Wednesday

The Pittsburgh Steelers worked out a Florida Atlantic tackle.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a hunt for tackles after Zach Banner (torn ACL) was lost for the season in their win over the New York Giants on Monday. He was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and will undergo knee surgery on Friday.

To add depth on the practice squad, Brandon Walton, a tackle out of Florida Atlantic, was hosted by the Steelers on Wednesday, per the NFL transaction wire.

Walton, signed as a 2020 undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills, has been a hot commodity since the team released him last week.

The 6-4 and 311-pound tackle worked out with the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs last week.

According to our friends over at Chiefs Wire, Walton appeared in 44 games in four seasons with the FAU Owls and has experience at both right and left tackle. Walton jumps out on tape against high-level competition like Chase Young, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Chuks Okorafor, who was co-starter on the Steelers initial NFL-mandated depth chart of the season, is expected to take over for Banner at right tackle.

Tackles Derwin Gray, Anthony Coyle, Jarron Jones and Jerald Hawkins are currently on the Steelers practice squad. One of them will move up to the active roster to backup Okorafor.

As the practice squad has a rotating door on it, steady tryouts are conducted throughout the season.

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Chiefs to host former Bills OT Brandon Walton for visit

The Chiefs are taking a look at an intriguing offensive tackle who was with the Bills this offseason.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to bring players in for visits, likely with the goal of reinforcing their practice squad depth. Earlier in the week, they had OL Danny Isidora, WR Juwann Winfree and P Tyler Newsome in for visits. They even ended up adding Isidora to the practice squad. Now, they’ll host former Bills OT Brandon Walton on a visit.

If you look at the Chiefs’ 16-man practice squad right now, you’ll notice that that one thing missing is offensive tackle depth. Walton signed with Buffalo following the 2020 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic. He didn’t make the final 53-man roster for the Bills but was added to the initial practice squad. He was released from the practice squad in order to make room for former Packers WR Jake Kumerow.

The 6-4 and 311-pound tackle has been busy since his release, working out for the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, Sept. 10. Walton is a toolsy prospect who played in a lot of games for the Owls, appearing in 44 contests over the course of four seasons. He has experience playing both the right tackle and left tackle spots. He also has some really good tape against top-flight competition like No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Chase Young.

Walton would be a solid developmental OT prospect to keep on the practice squad for the 2020 NFL season and perhaps beyond for Kansas City. We’ll see in the coming days if any movement comes from his visit with the team. It’s worth noting that there are four receivers on the Chiefs’ practice squad. That’d probably be the position that sees someone released if they were to make a transaction.

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