Tag: JJ Jansen

New Panthers STC Tracy Smith praises his unit’s toughness

Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith spoke about the toughness and spirit of his unit.

New Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith hasn’t been around his guys long, but he already knows what he’s got to work with.

Smith, while in the fourth day of the offseason workout program, spoke with reporters earlier this afternoon. He was asked how he thinks he can build around the core group of special teamers in his first season for Carolina.

“A really tough group,” Smith said in describing the players. “Physical, fast, tough group. Met ’em throughout this week. And guys that care about the game. I’ve known Johnny Hekker on and off for years and years. Had some nightmare plays against Johnny—like 2012-ish, or ’13. JJ [Jansen]—every year that I’ve been in, he’s been in. So have some relationship with those guys, also a little bit with Eddy [Piñeiro] as well.

“But this was not an underperforming group. This is a good group of guys. Expect them to keep their level of intensity and play the same. And the spirit from all of them has been great.”

Smith was hired back on Feb. 8. He comes in with 15 years of NFL experience—with stops for the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns, the San Francisco 49ers, the then-Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans.

[lawrence-related id=695116,694406,693093]

Panthers officially announce new 1-year deal for LS JJ Jansen

The Panthers have officially announced the return of LS JJ Jansen.

Year No. 16 is officially ready to begin for the longest-tenured Carolina Panther.

As announced by the organization on Monday morning, long snapper JJ Jansen will be returning for the 2024 campaign on a new one-year deal. The agreement was first reported on by Joseph Person of The Athletic this past Friday.

Jansen came to Carolina way back in 2009, when the Green Bay Packers traded away the University of Notre Dame special teamer for a conditional 2011 draft pick. The tiny investment would pay off for the Panthers, who have seen Jansen play in every one of the team’s 243 games since the swap.

Those 243 appearances stand as a franchise record, one he captured in the middle of the 2022 campaign. The previous record holder was kicker John Kasay, who recorded 222 games in the black and blue from 1995 to 2010.

With his return, the 38-year-old Jansen will now play under his fifth different full-time head coach in Dave Canales.

[lawrence-related id=692586,692703,692667]

15 years of Panthers LS JJ Jansen

With his 16th season in Carolina on deck, let’s look back at the first 15 years of Panthers LS JJ Jansen.

Year No. 16 is on deck.

On Friday afternoon, Joseph Person of The Athletic reported that the Carolina Panthers and long snapper JJ Jansen have come to terms on a one-year deal. The agreement will bring the 38-year-old back for the 2024 campaign—his 16th with the franchise.

To celebrate another year of No. 44, let’s look back at the first 15:

Panthers, LS JJ Jansen reportedly agree to terms on 1-year deal

Per The Athletic, LS JJ Jansen will be back with the Panthers on a one-year deal.

243 games and counting.

As first reported by Joseph Person of The Athletic on Friday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers will be bringing back longtime long snapper JJ Jansen for the 2024 campaign. The agreement, per Person, will be a one-year deal.

Jansen, who was slated to become a free agent next week, would be sticking around for his 16th season with the Panthers. He is currently the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, as he’s notched 243 consecutive appearances since joining the team way back in 2009.

The former Pro Bowler has, obviously, experienced quite a bit as the organization’s longest-tenured player. Dave Canales will be the fifth full-time head coach Jansen has played under in Carolina—joining the ranks of John Fox, Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule and Frank Reich.

Additionally, he has been around for three NFC South titles, four overall playoff berths and the franchise’s last trip to the Super Bowl in 2015.

[lawrence-related id=692504,692501,692468]

Report: JJ Jansen likely returning for 16th season with Panthers

Longtime long snapper JJ Jansen may be back with the Panthers in 2024.

The longest-tenured Carolina Panther may be tenured even longer.

Joe Person of The Athletic dropped a few bits of info in a new report on Thursday. Amongst the nuggets was one on long snapper JJ Jansen, who is currently set to hit free agency.

But according to Person, the longtime long snapper is likely staying put in Charlotte. He writes:

The team’s previous regime was interested in re-signing the 38-year-old Jansen, who has played in 243 consecutive games since arriving in 2009 in a trade from Green Bay, according to a source briefed on the situation. The sense here is Jansen will be back for a 16th season.

Those 243 games stand as a franchise record, one he broke in the middle of the 2022 campaign. Jansen surpassed former kicker John Kasay, who appeared in 221 games for the Panthers between 1995 and 2010.

Jansen has already played under four different head coaches in Carolina—including John Fox, Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule and Frank Reich. So, will Dave Canales become No. 5?

[lawrence-related id=692504,674226,668931]

Full list of 2024 Panthers free agents

The Panthers currently have 26 players slated for free agency in 2024.

Things have changed a bit since the last time we brought you this free agent list.

A few weeks back, the Carolina Panthers held on to a few of their own—re-signing tight end Stephen Sullivan and defensive linemen Nick Thurman LaBryan Ray to fresh deals.

So, let’s take an updated look at the team’s pending 2024 free agents.

4 Panthers receive All-Pro votes for 2023 season

Four Panthers players got some recognition on this year’s All-Pro ballots.

The Carolina Panthers didn’t have a single player land on either of the Associated Press’ 2023 All-Pro teams. But they did have a handful who garnered a bit of recognition.

This year’s results showed that four Panthers received at least one vote from the panel of 50 national media members. The players who got some love include defensive tackle Derrick Brown, running back Raheem Blackshear, wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and long snapper JJ Jansen.

Despite setting a new single-season record for most tackles by a defensive lineman (103), Brown finished sixth amongst all interior defenders—a group led by Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald and Kansas City’s Chris Jones. The fourth-year wrecking ball, who also led his peers in stops (53) and run stop win rate (47 percent), received one first-place vote.

Blackshear and Smith-Marsette were considered for their production on special teams. Blackshear, who got two second-place votes as a kick returner, averaged 26.9 yards per attempt. Smith-Marsette, the owner of two first-place votes as a punt returner, fielded a league-high 37 tries with one touchdown.

[lawrence-related id=689276,689270,689265]

2024 free agents who may be playing their final game for the Panthers in Week 18

Week 18 may mark the end of an era for a few Carolina Panthers players.

Sunday will not only represent the end of a brutal 2023 season for the Carolina Panthers, but it may also mark the end of a few eras.

Here are 23 pending free agents who could be playing their last game for the Panthers in Week 18:

*List excludes pending free agents who are on the practice squad, who are on injured reserve and who have been ruled out

4 Panthers named alternates for 2024 Pro Bowl Games

The Panthers didn’t have a single player named to the NFC’s 2024 Pro Bowl Games squad. But they do have four alternates.

Unsurprisingly, the 2-14 Carolina Panthers did not have a single player named to the NFC Pro Bowl Games squad. But they do have a handful of understudies.

As announced on Wednesday night, four Panthers have been named alternates for this year’s all-star festivities—defensive tackle Derrick Brown, outside linebacker Brian Burns, punter Johnny Hekker and long snapper JJ Jansen.

Brown, who is a first alternate, may stand as one of the conference’s biggest snubs. The fourth-year wrecking ball currently leads all players at his position in run stop win rate (48 percent) and stops (48), and is only three takedowns away from setting a new single-season tackles record for a defensive lineman.

Interim head coach Chris Tabor spoke about Brown earlier today.

“Oh, I think he’s havin’ a heck of a year,” Tabor said. “What is he? Three tackles short of 100?  I mean, think about that. That position, and to have the opportunity to get over 100 tackles.

“I’ve said it for weeks—I don’t call him ‘DB,’ I call him ‘Pro Bowler.'”

Burns, a starter for the NFC in 2022 and 2023, is a second alternate while Hekker and Jansen are third alternates.

[lawrence-related id=688601,688588,688491]