Tag: Jonathan Harris

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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Lions cut ex-Broncos linebacker

The Lions cut LB Kwon Alexander on Thursday. If he clears waivers, Detroit hopes to re-sign Alexander to the practice squad.

The Detroit Lions have cut inside linebacker Kwon Alexander, the team announced Thursday.

Alexander will now hit the NFL’s waiver wire. If he clears waivers, the Lions hope to re-sign Alexander to their practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Alexander (6-1, 227 pounds) joined the Denver Broncos in September after the team lost Alex Singleton to a season-ending knee injury. He was elevated from the practice squad to Denver’s game-day roster three times before being poached by Detroit.

Alexander, 30, appeared in two games with the Lions, totaling four tackles. Before that, he recorded eight tackles in three games with the Broncos. The linebacker tweeted this message on his Twitter/X page on Thursday:

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, Detroit opened the 21-day window for receiver/returner Kalif Raymond to return from injured reserve, the Minnesota Vikings signed defensive lineman Jonathan Harris to their practice squad and the San Francisco 49ers added offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez to their practice squad.

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Panthers announce signing from 49ers’ practice squad

The Panthers officially announced the return of LB Chandler Wooten on Tuesday morning.

The Carolina Panthers added some much-needed depth to the middle of the defense on Tuesday.

As announced by the team this morning, inside linebacker Chandler Wooten has been signed from the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad to Carolina’s active roster. Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer was first with the news on Monday afternoon.

Wooten takes up the void left behind by yesterday’s departure of defensive lineman Jonathan Harris, who was waived following the Panthers’ 36-30 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16.

Head coach Dave Canales explained why they moved on from Harris.

“Yeah, bunch of different decisions,” Canales replied. “Jonathan was the guy that we released to make room for potentially bringing some other guys in and see if we can get some linebacker help.”

That help will come in the form of Wooten, who has appeared in 20 regular-season games for Carolina over the last three seasons. He’s recorded 16 combined tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery between 2022 and 2024.

Before the Wooten’s return, the Panthers carried just three inside linebackers on their active roster—Josey Jewell, Jacoby Windmon and Jon Rhattigan.

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Panthers reportedly plan to bring back familiar face in Week 17

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the Panthers are planning to bring back a linebacker amidst a wave of injuries.

The Carolina Panthers seem primed to bring a familiar face back into the fold.

According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, the team plans on signing linebacker Chandler Wooten to their active roster. The third-year defender is currently a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

All 20 of Wooten’s NFL appearances have come for the Panthers. He’s recorded 16 combined tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery between 2022 and 2024.

Head coach Dave Canales hinted at an addition to the inside linebacker spot on Monday, after the Panthers waived defensive lineman Jonathan Harris.

“Yeah, bunch of different decisions,” Canales said of moving on from Harris, who recovered a fumble in this past Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. “Jonathan was the guy that we released to make room for potentially bringing some other guys in and see if we can get some linebacker help.”

The Panthers have only three inside linebackers on their active roster—Josey Jewell, Jacoby Windmon and Jon Rhattigan.

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Panthers cut ex-Broncos defensive lineman

The Panthers cut ex-Broncos defensive lineman Jonathan Harris on Monday.

The Carolina Panthers waived defensive lineman Jonathan Harris on Monday, a move that was made in part to open up a spot for an inside linebacker.

Harris (6-5, 295 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Lindenwood with the Chicago Bears in 2019. After being waived by the Bears in October of his rookie season, Harris was picked up by the Denver Broncos.

Harris went on to spend five years in Denver, totaling 80 tackles, six quarterback hits and one sack in 31 games (nine starts) with the Broncos. Harris played all 17 games last fall and posted a career-high 43 tackles and one sack.

Denver opted to let Harris walk during NFL free agency this spring and he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. After failing to make Miami’s 53-man roster, Harris was signed to their practice squad.

The Panthers signed Harris off the Dolphins’ practice squad to their active roster in October. He appeared in seven games before being cut. If he clears waivers, Harris might be a candidate to return on Carolina’s practice squad.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the Minnesota Vikings worked out defensive lineman Adam Gotsis and cornerback Michael Ojemudia. Gotsis was picked by Denver in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft and Ojemudia was a third-round pick in 2020.

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Panthers HC Dave Canales hints at impending roster addition on Monday

Panthers HC Dave Canales hinted at where the team’s next addition will likely come.

On Monday, the Carolina Panthers waived veteran defensive end Jonathan Harris. Harris, despite playing just 14 snaps in Week 16, made one of the biggest plays of yesterday’s 36-30 victory when he recovered a fumble in the second quarter.

So, why the move?

Head coach Dave Canales was asked why the team decided to part ways with Harris this afternoon.

“Yeah, bunch of different decisions,” Canales replied. “Jonathan was the guy that we released to make room for potentially bringing some other guys in and see if we can get some linebacker help.”

Canales would then confirm that the Panthers will be looking outside of the building to add to the inside linebacker position, a spot that has taken quite a few hits this year. Carolina has lost team captain Shaq Thompson, 2024 third-round pick Trevin Wallace and second-year ‘backer Claudin Cherelus to season-ending injuries.

Sunday’s outing saw the Panthers start Josey Jewell and undrafted rookie Jacoby Windmon in the middle of the defense. The only other inside linebacker currently on the active roster is Jon Rhattigan, who has played the vast majority of his snaps on special teams.

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Panthers waive DL who recovered fumble in yesterday’s win over Cardinals

The Panthers have waived DL Jonathan Harris, who recovered a fumble in the Week 16 win against the Cardinals.

The Carolina Panthers have parted ways with defensive lineman Jonathan Harris, who made one of the biggest plays in yesterday’s 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Harris, as announced on Monday afternoon, has been waived ahead of Week 17. The 28-year-old veteran factored into the Week 16 outing, where he recovered a fumble from Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in the second quarter of the eventual overtime victory.

His takeaway set the Carolina offense up at Arizona’s 30-yard line with just over nine minutes remaining in the first half. The Panthers would then capitalize, as quarterback Bryce Young found wide receiver Adam Thielen for an 8-yard touchdown connection just four plays later to give the team a 20-3 lead.

Carolina signed Harris off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad back on Oct. 22. He’d go on to appear in seven games for the Panthers—recording 10 combined tackles, five stops, two quarterback pressures and the fumble recovery.

The active roster now sits at 52 players.

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Carolina Panthers players who are free agents in 2025

With the trade deadline now behind us, let’s take a look at the Panthers who are set to become free agents following the 2024 season:

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The 2024 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and it didn’t go without a few moves from the Carolina Panthers.

Last week, the team shipped off wideout Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens in a trade involving a late-round pick swap for the 2025 draft. And yesterday, in a much more favorable return, they sent fellow receiver Jonathan Mingo over to the Dallas Cowboys.

So now that those departures are official, we could start looking ahead towards free agency for quite a few more.

Here are Panthers whose contracts are set to expire following the season:

  • QB Andy Dalton
  • RB Chuba Hubbard (Signed four-year extension)
  • RB Raheem Blackshear (RFA)
  • WR David Moore
  • WR Jalen Coker (ERFA)
  • TE Tommy Tremble
  • TE Ian Thomas
  • TE Feleipe Franks (RFA)
  • OL Brady Christensen
  • OL Cade Mays
  • C Austin Corbett
  • DL LaBryan Ray
  • DL DeShawn Williams
  • DL Jonathan Harris
  • DL Raequan Williams (ERFA)
  • OLB Charles Harris
  • OLB Thomas Incoom
  • OLB Cam Gill
  • ILB Shaq Thompson
  • CB Mike Jackson
  • CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
  • CB Anthony Brown
  • S Xavier Woods
  • S Jordan Fuller
  • S Sam Franklin Jr.
  • S Nick Scott
  • S Demani Richardson (ERFA)
  • K Eddy Piñeiro
  • P Johnny Hekker
  • LS JJ Jansen

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

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Panthers defense features 4 ex-Broncos players

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero has four ex-Broncos players on his defense, headlined by linebacker Josey Jewell.

The Carolina Panthers’ defense will look familiar when the Denver Broncos host the NFC South opponent in Week 8.

Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero held that same role with the Broncos in 2022, and he has recruited four ex-Denver defenders to Carolina.

The list of players is headlined by inside linebacker Josey Jewell, who started 58 games for the Broncos from 2018-2023. Carolina also has outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, who spent last season in Denver.

The Panthers also have two former Broncos defensive linemen in DeShawn Williams (2018; 2019; 2020-2022) and Jonathan Harris (2019-2023), who just landed in Charlotte earlier this week.

Additionally, Carolina also has ex-Denver running back Mike Boone on the practice squad. Sunday will be a bit of a homecoming game for these five players and Evero.

Ex-Broncos players on the Panthers

1. ILB Josey Jewell

2. OLB Thomas Incoom

3. DL DeShawn Williams

4. DL Jonathan Harris 

5. RB Mike Boone (practice squad)

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map).

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Host of ex-Broncos appear on NFL’s transaction wire

Ben DiNucci, Jonathan Harris and Andrew Beck were among the former Broncos players who showed up on the NFL’s transaction wire on Tuesday.

Tuesday was a busy day for former Denver Broncos players.

Seven ex-Broncos appeared on the NFL’s transaction wire on Oct. 22. Here’s a quick rundown of each move.

  • DL Jonathan Harris was signed by the Panthers (off the Dolphins’ practice squad). Harris will face Denver, his former team, on Sunday.
  • WR Phillip Dorsett signed to the Falcons’ practice squad. Smith spent last season on the Broncos’ practice squad.
  • FB Andrew Beck was cut from the Packers’ practice squad. Beck spent 2019-2022 in Denver.
  • QB Ben DiNucci worked out for the Saints. DiNucci was the Broncos’ third-string quarterback in 2023. New Orleans tried and failed to poach DiNucci from Denver’s practice squad last fall.
  • WR Kaden Davis worked out for the Colts. Davis has had three different stints with the Broncos, including two short stints on the practice squad this season.
  • WR Tre’Quan Smith was released from injured reserve by the Lions. Smith spent part of last season on Denver’s practice squad.
  • RB Tony Jones worked out for the Texans. Jones went to training camp with the Broncos in 2023.

Tuesday was a relatively quiet day in Denver, but seven former Broncos players made headlines elsewhere.

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