Seahawks re-sign LB Jamie Sheriff to practice squad
On Monday, the Seattle Seahawks released safety-turned-linebacker Michael Dowell from the practice squad. Dowell, undrafted and formerly with the Bengals, was only with the Seahawks organization for five days. In order to join the practice squad, Dowell took the place of linebacker Jamie Sheriff. After news broke of Dowell’s release, we at Seahawks Wire mused that his now-vacant spot may offer an avenue for Sheriff’s return.
Well, it turns out this was indeed the case! On Wednesday, Seattle announced they were bringing the fan-favorite linebacker back to their practice squad.
Sheriff made a name for himself during the 2024 preseason this past August. In three games, he recorded eight total tackles and three sacks. Two of them came during the preseason finale, in which the Seahawks defeated the Cleveland Browns 37-33 at Lumen Field.
Now, his roller coaster time on and off the practice squad and being in the Seattle organization continues. Given how inconsistent the Seahawks pass rush has been, perhaps he can find his way into becoming a more consistent presense on the 53-man active roster.
Seahawks sign former DB turned LB Michael Dowell to practice squad
The Seattle Seahawks have made a roster move with their practice squad. On Wednesday, it was announced the team had signed linebacker Michael Dowell, who was previously with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dowell went undrafted this year and signed with the Bengals as a safety. In college, Dowell was primarily a defensive back. He spent the first three years of his collegiate career with the Michigan State Spartans, before transferring to Miami of Ohio for his final two seasons.
During his time in college, Dowell recorded 239 total tackles (12 of which were for a loss), defended 16 passes, snagged two interceptions, and logged two sacks as well. Interestingly, Seattle is signing Dowell to be a linebacker for them. Makes sense, considering how much the linebacker position has been a weak point for the Seahawks overall this season.
Unfortunately, when a new person comes to the practice squad, it often means someone has to go. This time, it is linebacker Jamie Sheriff who drew the short straw. Sheriff made a name for himself in the preseason, especially in the finale against the Browns where he recorded two sacks.
Seahawks bring OLB Jamie Sheriff back to practice squad
The Seattle Seahawks have made yet another move to bolster their practice squad. On Tuesday, the Seahawks brought back wide receiver Ty Scott to the practice squad after cutting him. On Thursday afternoon it was announced one more familiar face would be returning as well.
Brady Henderson of ESPN is reporting Seattle is brining back linebacker Jamie Sheriff to the practice squad.
The Sheriff is back in town: The Seahawks plan sign OLB Jamie Sheriff to their practice squad, a source tells me. The UDFA from South Alabama will return to Seattle after a strong preseason with the Seahawks and a stint with the Panthers.
Jamie Sheriff was initially waived by the Seahawks when the League mandated active rosters be trimmed to 53 players. The move did come as a bit of a shock to 12’s around the region, as it seemed Sheriff had done more than enough to prove himself worthy of a roster spot in Seattle.
During the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, Sheriff had himself quite the evening. He recorded four total tackles (two of which went for a loss) as well as logging two sacks. One of which was on fourth down to give the Seahawks the ball again and help protect their lead.
Now, Sheriff is back in the Seattle organization, ready to be called up should anything happen to challenge the Seahawks’ pass rush depth.
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.
Saints DE Carl Granderson ripped through the Panthers for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023. LT Ikem Ekwonu must keep him at bay in Week 1.
The Carolina Panthers will have to claim a few battles to win the war against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Here are four key matchups for this weekend’s regular-season opener between the NFC South rivals:
WR Diontae Johnson vs. CB Marshon Lattimore
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Quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers have a few new toys on offense, including Johnson. The former Pro Bowler, who is one of the best pure separators in football, will serve as the unit’s go-to target and give Young an element of openness he didn’t always have last season.
When it comes to New Orleans, go-to targets go through Lattimore—who was not in uniform the only time Johnson has faced the Saints. That contest came in 2022, when Johnson went for 63 yards on four receptions against Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor—the other two featured corners who are still in the secondary.
LT Ikem Ekwonu vs. DE Carl Granderson
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For Young to find Johnson and the rest of his pass catchers, he’ll have to avoid Granderson—who was an absolute menace against Carolina in 2023. The 27-year-old accounted for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble between their two meetings.
Much of that pressure was charged to Ekwonu. The former sixth overall pick can begin to put a mediocre second campaign behind him with a little redemption at the start of his third.
Panthers OLBs vs. Saints OTs
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Carolina’s defense is headed into Week 1 with very few, if any answers to their pass-rushing problems. Other than 11th-year veteran Jadeveon Clowney, the Panthers are carrying only three (very inexperienced) outside linebackers on the active roster—DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and Jamie Sheriff.
Luckily for them, the Saints have a little inexperience of their own on the blindside with rookie and 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga. They’ll also be rolling out starting right tackle Trevor Penning, who has had a very rough go in the NFL over his brief two-year career.
Something may (or may not) have to give here.
CB Mike Jackson vs. WR A.T. Perry
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In addition to the second edge spot, the Panthers will have to figure out who will step up as the No. 2 cornerback next to Jaycee Horn. Mike Jackson, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 22, will seemingly get the first crack at the job.
He has to make sure Perry, an ascending young talent for New Orleans, doesn’t make himself a smooth criminal on Sunday.
The Panthers are set to relaunch QB Bryce Young on Sunday. And this time, it’ll be with HC Dave Canales behind him.
Whether you consider it a rebuild or a retool, the return of Carolina Panthers football comes this Sunday. So, what should we keep in mind as the organization begins anew once again?
Here are the top storylines for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints:
The relaunch of Bryce Young
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Carolina has put all of their chips on No. 9. And when we say “all of their chips,” that includes star wideout DJ Moore and four high-end draft picks—one of which eventually became 2024’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
But the initial return on 2023’s No. 1 overall pick was not great . . . at all. Bryce Young passed for just 179.8 yards per game and 11 touchdowns while leading not only the worst offense in the league, but also one of the most futile in the history of the franchise.
The organization placed another big chip on Young this offseason, hiring first-year head coach Dave Canales—who helped spark career campaigns for Seattle’s Geno Smith and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield over the last two years. Thus far, the relationship between Young and Canales seems to be going swimmingly, with the former receiving rave reviews throughout the offseason.
Will that success, however, translate when the real action starts on Sunday?
Let the rooks cook?
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Simply hiring a quarterback whisperer wouldn’t be enough. After bringing in Canales and spending a boatload on a pair of new starting guards, the Panthers put down more chips on Young by selecting receiver Xavier Legette and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in this year’s draft.
Legette, the team’s first-round pick, may be moved along slowly and surely. With Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo above him in the pecking order as of now, the somewhat raw 23-year-old is likely to have a relatively quiet debut.
Sanders, on the other hand, may be stepping right into the fire. Starters Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas have been ruled out for the contest, potentially giving the fourth-rounder a featured role in his very first regular-season game.
On edge
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Despite holding their opponents to the fourth-fewest yards per game last season, the Panthers defense was the absolute worst in the NFL at getting to the quarterback. And when you saddle their league-low 27 sacks with the losses of Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos—their three leading producers in that stat from 2023—that’s probably a recipe for disaster.
That concern has been amplified by what they have (or haven’t) replenished their pass-rushing department with this offseason. Three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall selection Jadeveon Clowney will serve as one of the two outside linebackers—and that’s okay. But with their other big free-agent signing at the position, D.J. Wonnum, starting the season on the physically unable to perform list, Carolina is exceptionally thin off the edge.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will be going into Sunday with just three outside ‘backers on the active roster other than Clowney—DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and rookie Jamie Sheriff. They have combined for a grand total of zero sacks in the NFL.
So, where will Evero and the Panthers get their pass rush from?
The Panthers are going trial by fire at the OLB position.
The Carolina Panthers are going trial by fire off the edge.
On Tuesday, the team released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2024 regular season. One of the most anticipated reveals came at the second starting outside linebacker position, where 2023 third-round pick DJ Johnson was listed.
Head coach Dave Canales was asked about Johnson’s standing across from fellow starter Jadeveon Clowney after Wednesday’s practice.
“Yeah, great starting point. He’s played a lot of football for us,” he said of the 25-year-old. “Right now, still, we’re looking for somebody to step up and take that job. So this is not something where it’s just like, ‘Hey, you’re the starter, here we go.’ This is like, ‘Show us. Show us what you’re about.’
“And again, this talks to the competitive nature of our team and the culture we wanna build in this building. We got a bunch of players with ability, and we wanna see who’s gonna step up and take that role. So you’re gonna see a rotation as we go with that whole group.”
That group won’t include former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick K’Lavon Chaisson, who was released by the Panthers yesterday. Canales was also asked about that move.
“I thought he had a really good role that he was starting to develop for himself—in terms of special teams,” he replied. “And we were looking for somebody to be a dynamic game-changer as far as the pass rush. And we added some people to our roster and to our practice squad that we’d love to take a look at to see if they can give us that spark we’re looking for.”
Behind Clowney and Johnson sit second-year defender Eku Leota and Jamie Sheriff, who was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks last week. The practice squad currently features three outside linebackers—Kenny Dyson, Thomas Incoom and Tarron Jackson.
The Carolina Panthers and general manager Dan Morgan put their top spot on the waiver wire to good use on Wednesday, claiming a total of six players following the league’s initial roster cutdowns.
Here’s a fresh look at Carolina’s roster following the additions:
The Panthers officially announced their claims for six players on Wednesday.
Yes, guys. It’s official. It’s confirmed. The deals are sealed.
Following yesterday’s cutdowns to this season’s initial 53-man rosters, the Carolina Panthers announced waiver claims for six players on Wednesday afternoon. The group features former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac, former New York Jets cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, former Washington Commanders cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, former Seattle Seahawks linebackers Jamie Sheriff and Jon Rhattigan and former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston.
Carolina’s fresh trio of cornerbacks is headlined by Isaac, who had a standout preseason for the divisional rival Bucs. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound defensive back earned a 90.2 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus over his three exhibition outings on the summer.
To make room for the claims, the Panthers also announced the departures of six players from their initial 53-man roster—wide receivers Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Jalen Coker, offensive lineman Cade Mays, defensive lineman Jayden Peevy, cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and safety Demani Richardson.
Seahawks lose OLB Jamie Sheriff, LB Jon Rhattigan to waiver claims
Releasing a player and exposing them to the waivers claim process always comes with a risk. Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks were burned on two occasions when Wednesday’s claims were officially processed by the league office. The Carolina Panthers claimed Seahawks EDGE rusher Jamie Sheriff and off-ball linebacker Jon Rhattigan, according to multiple sources.
So far, #Seahawks reportedly have lost Jon Rhattigan and Jamie Sheriff to Panthers.
John Schneider's pupil taking as many players as he can off waiver wire apparently.
Both Rhattigan and Sheriff were waived during Tuesday’s final roster cuts. Sheriff is the one Seahawks fans will especially mourn. The rookie undrafted free agent from South Alabama recorded three sacks during the preseason and was a constant thorn in the backside of quarterbacks. He finished just half a sack away from leading the league in exhibition sacks.
The Seahawks clearly didn’t think Sheriff was ready for regular-season football. Instead of keeping him on the active roster, general manager John Schneider traded for veteran EDGE Trevis Gipson, who made the team. Sheriff was waived as a result, and the Panthers used their top waiver-wire priority to pounce on his availability.
The issue between the Seahawks and Rhattigan was apparently salary related. By claiming Rhattigan, the Panthers are inheriting his base salary of $2.985 million, which the Seahawks felt was bloated, per Bob Condotta. Again, the Panthers utilized their top priority here.
The Seahawks revamped their linebacker room earlier this offseason. Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are expected to serve as the starters. They also drafted Tyrice Knight, and recently traded for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett, who is expected to re-join Seattle via the practice squad after he was waived on Tuesday. All of those moves made Rhattigan and his salary more expendable.
It’s worth acknowledging new Panthers general manager Dan Morgan worked under Schneider for five years in Seattle, first as a scout (2010), and later as assistant director of pro personnel (2011-14). Carolina’s staff features various ex Seahawks coaches, including their head coach Dave Canales. It’s not surprising that the Panthers opted to claim two Seahawks players.
