Tag: J.T. Ibe

Panthers sign safety to replace J.T. Ibe, release FB Mason Stokke

Today, Carolina has brought in another safety to fill Ibe’s former spot.

The Panthers lost a few players at yesterday’s practice. Running back Darius Clark left on a cart, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood got a concussion and safety J.T. Ibe was waived for giving it to him.

Today, Carolina has brought in another safety to fill Ibe’s former spot: Doug Middleton has signed with the team. Middleton played his college ball at Appalachian State, then went undrafted and signed with the Jets. He spent three years there plus some time with the Titans, Jaguars and Dolphins.

The Panthers also announced that they have waived rookie fullback Mason Stokke. His reps will likely got to Mikey Daniel, who has previously played fullback for the Falcons.

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Panthers claim linebacker Nate Hall off waivers from Texans

Following short stints in Dallas and Buffalo, the 25-year-old linebacker was then waived by the Texans on Monday.

Hours after releasing DB J.T. Ibe, the Panthers have filled his spot on the 90-man roster by claiming linebacker Nate Hall off the waiver wire.

Hall’s NFL career began with the Cowboys in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern. There, he started nine games as a senior linebacker, recording 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and three interceptions on his way to becoming an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Following short stints in Dallas and Buffalo, the 25-year-old linebacker was then waived by the Texans on Monday. Through 10 games with Houston in 2020, Hall racked up 11 tackles and a pair of sacks in just 15 defensive snaps, also lining up for 36% of the team’s special teams snaps.

Still, Hall faces an uphill battle to make Carolina’s final roster. While he provides more insurance in case of injury among the linebacker group right now, he’ll likely compete against players like Frankie Luvu, Julian Stanford and the recently-signed Jonathan Celestin for a permanent depth spot.

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J.T. Ibe apologizes for dangerous hit on Panthers WR Keith Kirkwood: ‘I’m so sorry’

It’s too late to save his job, but Ibe has apologized.

There aren’t a lot of sports where your career and entire life can change in an instant. Tackle football is one of them, and the Panthers got a jarring reminder of that at training camp today.

Safety J.T. Ibe has been released for his hit on wide receiver Keith Kirkwood at practice. Ibe hit Kirkwood high while he was attempting to make a catch in mid-air. Kirkwood went down hard and stayed there for a while. Eventually, he was taken off the field in an ambulance. It’s too late to save his job, but Ibe has apologized, per the Charlotte Observer.

“I just saw the ball and him and I wanted to interrupt it. It wasn’t me aiming for his head. It was just me trying to jar the ball out. . . I just felt bad, I looked at him when I landed, and I just felt bad. I asked the trainers to tell him I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hit him like that. It wasn’t intentional at all and I’m praying he’s OK.”

Ibe’s actions and subsequent release have been the story of the day. Sam Darnold appeared taken off-guard by the news in his post-practice press conference. Meanwhile, while Panthers legend Charles Johnson seems to think cutting him was sudden and harsh.

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Former Saints WR Keith Kirkwood carted off Panthers practice field after dangerous hit

Former New Orleans Saints wideout Keith Kirkwood was carted off the Panthers practice field following a dangerous hit:

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One former member of the black and gold was in the middle of a scary situation. Keith Kirkwood started his career with the New Orleans Saints before landing with the Carolina Panthers last year, but on Tuesday he was carted off the practice field following a hit to the head from defensive back J.T. Ibe, who was quickly waived.

Kirkwood, 27, remained prone on the field for almost 10 minutes until he was taken to an ambulance. He was able to move his arms and legs, and Panthers coach Matt Rhule said afterwards that Kirkwood experienced no pain in his neck. So there’s optimism that he avoided a serious injury.

Still, it’s a tough break for him. Kirkwood has struggled with injuries throughout his career; his promising rookie season in New Orleans began with a prolonged absence due to a hamstring issue, and further ailments have kept him sidelined in Carolina. Here’s hoping he rebounds from this and finds NFL success, at least when he’s not suiting up against the Saints.

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Panthers legend Charles Johnson confused by J.T. Ibe’s sudden release

Former Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson seems to think that releasing Ibe right away was a bit harsh.

The Carolina Panthers royally screwed up their first padded practice of training camp. Thanks to a couple injuries and one very poor decision, they effectively lost three players.

Undrafted rookie running back Darius Clark was carted off late in practice, while wide receiver Keith Kirkwood left in an ambulance after getting cracked by safety J.T. Ibe. For his efforts Ibe was immediately ejected from practice and cut from the team, as well as their website.

The sudden release of Ibe certainly sent a message. Coach Matt Rhule is clearly past tolerating the “over-aggressiveness” that’s taken place in at least two of the last three sessions. Not everyone agrees it was the right call, though. Former Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson seems to think that releasing Ibe right away was a bit harsh.

Johnson has a fair point about learning from your mistakes. However, he also came up in a different era of football and what Ibe did was just plain unacceptable, as Rhule said.

While there’s been some exciting growth exhibited on defense, overall this team has appeared somewhat sloppy and undisciplined these last few days. Perhaps they cound benefit from bringing in an experienced backup QB like Josh McCown.

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Watch: Sam Darnold reacts to Panthers cutting J.T. Ibe after hit on Keith Kirkwood

At least one player didn’t get the message.

Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule warned his players against over-aggressiveness during their Saturday night practice at Gibbs Stadium. At least one player didn’t get the message.

Safety J.T. Ibe was ejected from today’s training camp practice for hitting wide receiver Keith Kirkwood while he was still in the air – a classic defenseless receiver scenario that would have earned a flag. Not only was Ibe kicked out, he has been cut from the roster and pruned from the timeline – having his profile deleted from the team website all in a matter of minutes.

Watch quarterback Sam Darnold react to the news.

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Panthers sign defensive backs J.T. Ibe and Jalen Julius

Panthers sign defensive backs J.T. Ibe and Jalen Julius

Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer doesn’t have an easy task ahead of him. He’s gone from helping build the “Legion of Boom” in Seattle to now having to improve on his current team’s “Legion of Whom?”

The Panthers’ frighteningly thin secondary may be getting some help, however, with Fitterer’s latest additions in safety J.T. Ibe and cornerback Jalen Julius. The team, as first reported by Darin Gantt, signed the two defensive backs early Tuesday evening.

Ibe attended Rice University from 2014 to 2017, totaling 121 tackles over 32 games. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound safety then transferred to the University of South Carolina for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, where he’d start 14 of his 15 games played.

Julius, 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds, suited up for 38 contests over five years at Ole Miss. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in April of 2020 and was later cut as part of the team’s training-camp trim that summer.

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