Tag: Deven Thompkins

Carolina Panthers 2025 free agents

With the 2024 regular season now over, let’s take a look at the Panthers’ upcoming free agents:

The Carolina Panthers wrapped up their 2024 campaign with a 48-38 win, walking off the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 18.

But which players might have taken their final snap with the Panthers on Sunday?

As we enter Carolina’s offseason, here are the team’s 2025 free agents:

  • QB Andy Dalton
  • RB Raheem Blackshear (RFA)
  • RB Mike Boone
  • RB Velus Jones Jr. (RFA)
  • WR David Moore
  • WR Deven Thompkins
  • WR Dan Chisena (RFA)
  • TE Tommy Tremble
  • TE Ian Thomas
  • TE Feleipe Franks (RFA)
  • TE Stephen Sullivan
  • OL Brady Christensen
  • OL Cade Mays (RFA)
  • C Austin Corbett
  • DL LaBryan Ray (ERFA)
  • DL DeShawn Williams
  • DL Raequan Williams (ERFA)
  • OLB Cam Gill
  • ILB Shaq Thompson
  • ILB Chandler Wooten (RFA)
  • CB Mike Jackson
  • CB Caleb Farley
  • CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
  • S Xavier Woods
  • S Jordan Fuller
  • S Sam Franklin Jr.
  • S Nick Scott
  • K Eddy Piñeiro
  • P Johnny Hekker
  • LS JJ Jansen

*RFA = Restricted free agent
*ERFA = Exclusive rights free agent

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Panthers Week 18 inactives: G Robert Hunt’s season-long streak to end

Panthers G Robert Hunt has played in every one of Carolina’s 967 offensive snaps this season. But that streak will end today.

Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn won’t be finishing his first Pro Bowl campaign on the field.

Horn, who was ruled out of this afternoon’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday due to a hip injury, is one of seven inactive players for the Panthers here in Week 18. The fourth-year defender also missed last week’s 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Panthers will also be without starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion) for a second straight outing.

In somewhat of a surprise, the offense won’t have starting right guard Robert Hunt in the lineup for the first time this season. Hunt, who has played every offensive snap (967) for Carolina, was listed as questionable with a knee injury entering the weekend.

Second-year lineman Chandler Zavala will get the start in Hunt’s place.

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

  • CB Jaycee Horn
  • G Robert Hunt
  • ILB Josey Jewell
  • S Lonnie Johnson Jr.
  • RB Velus Jones Jr.
  • QB Jack Plummer (emergency QB)
  • WR Deven Thompkins

And for the host Falcons:

  • ILB JD Bertrand
  • DL Brandon Dorlus
  • CB Kevin King
  • WR Darnell Mooney
  • OT Brandon Parker
  • OL Elijah Wilkinson

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Panthers announce handful of roster moves ahead of Week 12 matchup vs. Chiefs

The Panthers will not have RB Miles Sanders on the field for quite some time.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of roster moves prior to their Week 12 matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

As announced on Saturday afternoon, the team has placed running back Miles Sanders on injured reserve. The sixth-year veteran was carted off from the Week 10 win over the New York Giants with an ankle injury.

Sanders, in the No. 2 role behind starter Chuba Hubbard, has recorded 38 carries for 139 yards and one touchdown through 10 games in 2024. His average of 3.7 rushing yards per attempt currently stands as the second-lowest of his NFL career—only ahead of last season’s mark of 3.3.

With Sanders now out for at least the next four games, the Panthers will get to utilize second-round pick Jonathon Brooks—who is expected to make his pro debut on Sunday. The rookie back has been sidelined for over a year after tearing his ACL.

To fill Sanders’ vacancy on the 53-man roster, the Panthers signed wide receiver Deven Thompkins from the practice squad.

Carolina also elevated two practice squad members for tomorrow—wide receiver Dan Chisena and outside linebacker Kenny Dyson.

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Panthers announce 4 roster moves ahead of Week 10 matchup vs. Giants

The Panthers activated a pair of players from injured reserve and called up two more from the practice squad on Saturday.

The Carolina Panthers have a few more notable defenders at the ready for this weekend’s showdown in Munich, Germany.

On Saturday, the team officially activated outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum and safety Jordan Fuller to the 53-man roster. Both will be eligible to play in tomorrow’s Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants.

Wonnum, who signed a two-year deal with Carolina in the spring, may now be in line to make his team debut. The 27-year-old pass rusher tore his quadricep last December as a member of the Minnesota Vikings and has remained sidelined due to numerous setbacks stemming from the injury.

Before the tear, Wonnum tied his career-high in sacks (8.0) through 15 games in 2023.

Fuller, another one of the Panthers’ free-agent signees from this past offseason, has missed the last six games due to a hamstring injury. He recorded 15 tackles over three starts between Weeks 1 and 3.

The Panthers also elevated wide receiver Deven Thompkins and cornerback Caleb Farley from the practice squad. This game will mark Thompkins’ second call-up and Farley’s third.

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Panthers announce 3 moves ahead of Week 9 matchup vs. Saints

The Panthers called up some depth for tomorrow’s matchup against the Saints.

The Carolina Panthers made a few adjustments before tomorrow’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

As announced on Saturday afternoon, the team has signed tight end Jordan Matthews to the active roster. The 32-year-old was in his second stint on Carolina’s practice squad this season.

Matthews was the Panthers’ second-leading receiver during preseason play, where he amassed 68 yards and a touchdown on seven catches.

He’ll provide some depth at the tight end position for the NFC South showdown with Tommy Tremble (back) listed as questionable and Feleipe Franks (concussion) already out.

The Panthers also elevated wide receiver Deven Thompkins and cornerback Caleb Farley from the practice squad. Sunday will mark the first elevation for Thompkins and the second for Farley, who recorded six snaps on defense and five on special teams in last Sunday’s 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos.

In addition, the team downgraded running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring), defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy (ankle), outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) and safety Jordan Fuller (hamstring) to out for the contest.

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Panthers bring back 2 players to practice squad on Monday

Speedy WR Deven Thompkins has returned to the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers are still sorting out their wideout room in the absence of Adam Thielen.

As announced on Monday, the team has signed receiver Deven Thompkins to their practice squad. The 24-year-old was a member of Carolina’s summer roster before being waived/injured on Aug. 11.

Thompkins spent the 2023 campaign alongside Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who was serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Canales gave reporters an idea of what the team was getting in the speedy 5-foot-8, 155-pounder when they added him during the offseason.

“I’m excited to get him in here,” he said of Thompkins back in July. “He’s another kick returner as well. He’s got some explosive elements to his play—so, really fun. Brings a different style of guy. We got a really big, strong group. But it’s also good to have those change-of-pace guys that can attack the defense a different way.”

Thielen, the offense’s primary slot receiver, was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday due to the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 3’s 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Thompkins, under Canales, played 63.7 percent of his snaps from the inside this past season.

Carolina also signed tight end Stephen Sullivan to the practice squad. Sullivan appeared in 28 games for the Panthers between 2021 and 2023.

To help make some room for the returns, the team released rookie wideout Sam Pinckney from the group.

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Panthers sign 3 players on Sunday

The Panthers are adding some much-needed depth to their offensive line.

The Carolina Panthers have found some much-needed depth for their offensive front.

As announced on Sunday morning, the team has signed interior lineman Jack Anderson. The addition was first reported by Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer late Saturday night.

A Plano, Texas native, Anderson attended nearby Texas Tech University from 2017 to 2020. He started every one of his games for the Red Raiders at right guard, where he’d earn a Second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018 and a First-team All-Big 12 selection in his senior campaign of 2020.

The 6-foot-4, 314-pounder would crack into the NFL as a seventh-round selection of the Buffalo Bills in 2021. After failing to make the team’s initial 53-man roster as a rookie, Anderson was brought back to the practice squad to start the year.

Three weeks in, Anderson was signed away from Buffalo by the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to appear in two games for Philly that season.

Anderson has since played in 12 games for the New York Giants (2022) and one for the Indianapolis Colts (2023).

Carolina also signed defensive tackle Walter Palmore and wide receiver Tayvion Robinson, both of whom have previously spent time with the organization.

In the corresponding moves to make room for the additions, the Panthers waived running back Jaden Shirden and Willie Drew and waived/injured wide receiver Deven Thompkins.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales asked about decision to sign WR Deven Thompkins

The Panthers’ addition of WR Deven Thompkins doesn’t come without a few questions.

Who is Deven Thompkins and what can he do?

Following the Back Together Saturday installment of training camp, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales was asked about one of his team’s newest additions. And Canales, who spent the 2023 season as Thompkins’ offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, called the 24-year-old a “good energy guy.”

“I’m excited to get him in here,” he said. “He’s another kick returner as well. He’s got some explosive elements to his play—so, really fun. Brings a different style of guy. We got a really big, strong group. But it’s also good to have those change-of-pace guys that can attack the defense a different way.”

The 5-foot-8, 155-pounder didn’t attack defenses too badly with the Buccaneers this past season, as he amassed 83 yards and one touchdown on 17 receptions. He did, however, prove his worth on special teams—serving as Tampa’s primary kick and punt returner.

But Thompkins doesn’t come without some questions, as he was accused of domestic violence by his estranged wife Maria Castillos back in May. Thompkins, who would be waived by the Buccaneers later that month, then denied the allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against Castillos.

Canales spoke on what he could about the team’s decision of adding Thompkins following the accusations.

“We had to be patient,” Canales said. “We had to wait for the league to process it before they can give us a green light on it.”

The NFL, in a statement via spokesman Brian McCarthy on July 15, announced that they did not find “sufficient evidence” to hold Thompkins accountable for violating the Personal Conduct Policy.

Update (12:39 a.m. ET):

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Panthers’ updated roster following Thursday’s addition of Deven Thompkins

Gallery: Updated Panthers roster following Thursday’s signing of WR Deven Thompkins

On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers added a new set of hands—signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins after the second outing of training camp.

So as we continue to settle into the summer, let’s take an updated look at the team’s current roster following the move: