Panthers WR Xavier Legette not impressed with his Madden NFL 25 face scan

Panthers rookie WR Xavier Legette doesn’t seem awfully impressed by his Madden NFL 25 face scan.

Seeing yourself in a video game—and in one of the world’s most legendary franchises, at that—has to be a surreal experience. And for Carolina Panthers rookie Xavier Legette, his experience proved to be exactly that . . . but maybe not in a good way.

The 23-year-old wide receiver just came across his face scan from Madden NFL 25,the popular EA Sports title set to release in a little over two month’s time. That preview came courtesy of an Instagram post from Panthers Statement, which Legette carried over to his own story with what seems to be a stamp of non-approval . . .

@xavier_legette/IG

Perhaps the “likeness” is not to his liking, but at least Legette can take some solace in the fact that his scan comes nowhere close to some of the atrocities we’ve seen in the past.

Just ask former Panthers guard Deonte Brown . . .

@RacinJasun/Twitter

Or franchise great Greg Olsen, who was defaced twice . . .

Panthers.com

So, yeah, it’s not all that bad, Xavier.

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Panthers roster heading into Week 18 vs. Buccaneers

Here are the 55 players the Panthers are carrying into their 2023 regular-season finale

The Carolina Panthers made their last pair of practice-squad elevations on Saturday.

Joining the team for their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be guard Deonte Brown and kicker Matthew Wright, who will likely be appearing in place of an injured Eddy Piñeiro.

So, for one final time, let’s look at the Panthers roster heading into Sunday.

Panthers elevate Matthew Wright, Deonte Brown for Week 18

The Panthers have brought up K Matthew Wright and G Deonte Brown for their regular-season finale against the Bucs.

The Carolina Panthers probably won’t be ending their 2023 campaign with the same foot they started it with.

As expected, the team has elevated kicker Matthew Wright from the practice squad ahead of their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Darin Gantt of Panthers.com was first with the news on Saturday afternoon.

Carolina’s usual place kicker Eddy Piñeiro tweaked his hamstring during pre-game warmups of last week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Piñeiro, who did not appear in the 26-0 loss, has been ruled as doubtful for tomorrow.

Wright was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday. The 27-year-old spent part of the summer with the Panthers, having kicked in all three preseason outings while Piñeiro dealt with a groin strain.

Joining Wright on the game day roster will be guard Deonte Brown. Brown, a sixth-round pick by Carolina back in 2021, has appeared in three NFL games—all of which came during his rookie season.

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Panthers’ updated practice squad after addition of Deonte Brown

Panthers’ updated 16-man practice squad following Thursday’s return of Deonte Brown

The Carolina Panthers brought back a familiar face to their practice squad on Thursday, adding guard Deonte Brown at the expense of quarterback Jake Luton.

Brown’s return may not be too surprising considering the current state (or whatever’s left of it) of Carolina’s interior offensive line. With Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett and Chandler Zavala now all lost for the rest of the season, the 2021 sixth-round pick could provide some insurance to a battered front.

Let’s take an updated look at the practice squad with Brown, once again, in the fold:

Panthers sign Deonte Brown back to practice squad, release Jake Luton

The Panthers made an adjustment to their practice squad on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers are continuing to beef up their depth in the offensive trench.

As first reported by Darin Gantt of Panthers.com on Thursday morning, guard Deonte Brown has been signed back to the practice squad.

Brown who was released alongside fellow interior lineman Calvin Throckmorton on Nov. 14, will now make his return to the group following a two-week absence. This is the second time this season Carolina has brought back the 25-year-old lineman, who was also cut at the end of the summer as the team reached its initial 53-man roster.

A sixth-round pick of the 2021 draft, the University of Alabama product has appeared in three regular-season games over his NFL career. All three outings came during his rookie campaign.

To make some room for the 6-foot-4, 335-pounder, the second hog molly to be added to the practice squad in as many days, the Panthers released quarterback Jake Luton.

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Panthers release 2 offensive linemen on Tuesday

The Panthers have released offensive linemen Calvin Throckmorton and Deonte Brown.

After releasing tight end Jordan Matthews and safety Matthias Farley on Monday, the Carolina Panthers parted ways with two more players this afternoon.

As announced on Tuesday, the team has released offensive linemen Calvin Throckmorton and Deonte Brown.

Throckmorton played the first two seasons of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, where he made 20 starts over 31 games. After being waived during this summer’s final roster cuts, he was claimed by Carolina on Aug. 30, along with linebacker Claudin Cherelus and cornerback D’Shawn Jamison.

The 6-foot-5, 309-pounder started seven games for the Panthers this year, with four coming at right guard and three at left guard. Per Pro Football Focus, Throckmorton has allowed 16 pressures over 357 pass-blocking opportunities.

Brown, who was a member of the team’s practice squad, was a sixth-round pick of the Panthers from the 2021 draft. The University of Alabama product appeared in just three regular-season outings for the organization, all of which came during his rookie campaign.

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Panthers’ initial 2023 practice squad

Here is the Carolina Panthers’ initial 16-man practice squad for the 2023 season:

The Carolina Panthers have officially rounded out their initial practice squad for the 2023 season—adding former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver and Frank Reich draft pick Dezmon Patmon on Tuesday.

So, let’s take a look at the entire (and complete) 16-man group:

Panthers announce 11 signings to initial 2023 practice squad

The Panthers signed the first 11 players to their initial 2023 practice squad.

The Carolina Panthers did plenty of work on Tuesday, making over 20 moves to get their once 90-man roster down to just 53. But, as always, their work was never done.

Next, on Wednesday, came the construction of the team’s initial practice squad. Here, as announced this afternoon, are the first 11 members of the group:

  • RB Spencer Brown
  • G Deonte Brown
  • G J.D. DiRenzo
  • G Justin McCray
  • DL Raequan Williams
  • DL Taylor Stallworth
  • OLB Eku Leota
  • OLB Jordan Thomas
  • CB Mark Milton
  • CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
  • S Eric Rowe

With NFL teams allowed to carry 16 players per practice squad, the Panthers will have five more spots to fill in the upcoming days. So expect, especially after the extra cuts and maneuvering throughout the league on Wednesday, some more additions soon.

As for who those additions may be, Carolina could look to bring back the trio of players they just waived in quarterback Matt Corral, wide receiver Derek Wright and linebacker Chandler Wooten.

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Tracking the Panthers’ initial 2023 practice squad

Keep it here as the Panthers build their initial practice squad for the 2023 season:

Now that the Carolina Panthers have established their initial 53-man roster (and whatever tweaks that may come after it), it’s time to build the initial practice squad.

Keep it here as we track each addition to the group.

Panthers cut 2021 draft picks Keith Taylor, Shi Smith, Deonte Brown

The Panthers are continuing to purge Matt Rhule’s robust 2021 draft class—as they’ve waived Keith Taylor, Shi Smith and Deonte Brown.

The purge of Matt Rhule’s robust 2021 draft class continues.

As announced on Tuesday morning, the Carolina Panthers have waived three picks from 2021—cornerback Keith Taylor, wide receiver Shi Smith and guard Deonte Brown.

Taylor, perhaps the most surprising departure, was selected in the fifth round that spring. The University of Washington product went on to play a pretty decent role in Carolina’s secondary since, playing in 34 of a possible 35 games in the last two seasons.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder recorded five starts over those 34 outings. He totaled 67 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and six passes defensed.

Smith, who also served as a depth piece for the Panthers, is another one of the more high-profile cuts of the morning. The Union, S.C. native and University of South Carolina product reeled in a combined 28 passes for 400 yards and a pair of scores over 23 games and fielded 23 punts in 2022.

Brown appeared in three games in 2021.

Only five of the class’ 11 players are currently active members of the roster.

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