Tag: Panthers Practice Squad

Panthers activate 2 from practice squad, re-sign 2 others

To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces.

The Carolina Panthers made several moves this morning, including activating both running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos from the injured reserve list. The team also made some changes to their practice squad.

Specifically, two former Philadelphia Eagles have been activated from the practice squad to the active roster: wide receiver Marken Michel and defensive tackle Bruce Hector. Michel and Hector were two of the team’s protected players from being signed by other teams this week. The others were tight end Giovanni Ricci and offensive tackle Matt Kaskey.

Michel was active last Thursday night against the Falcons but only played seven snaps, all on special teams – which was the first live game action of his career. As for Hector, if he’s in the lineup against the Chiefs on Sunday it will be his 12th game in the NFL. So far he’s totaled half a sack and one quarterback hit in limited action. If starting defensive tackle Zach Kerr is ruled out, there’s a chance Hector will backup rookie Bravvion Roy.

To fill those two spots vacated by Hector and Michel, the Panthers brought back two familiar faces. Kicker Taylor Bertolet and offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg have been re-signed to the squad.

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Panthers activate 2 from practice squad with COVID-19 designations

The Panthers have made a few moves in preparation for tomorrow’s matchup with the Saints.

The Panthers have made a few moves in preparation for tomorrow’s matchup with the Saints. Former Jets kicker Taylor Bertolet has been added to the practice squad to provide some extra depth behind Joey Slye, who is expected to play after being activated from the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday. In a pair of corresponding moves, the team activated two other players from the practice squad to the roster as COVID-19 replacements.

Rookie guard Mike Horton and former Eagles wide receiver Marken Michel are the two names that got called up. Neither will count against the active roster though, so the team can still promote two others for tomorrow’s game if they choose.

It’s not hard to see why Horton and Michel were the picks. Carolina is extremely thin at both positions.

The interior of the offensive line is missing backup center/guard Tyler Larsen and guard Michael Schofield, who are on the COVID-19 list. Starting right guard John Miller is also questionable to play with an ankle injury. Miller did not practice on Thursday or Friday, so it’s likely he won’t be in the lineup.

The wide receiver room is also a bit thin right now. Keith Kirkwood is back on the injured reserve list after reinjuring the broken clavicle that kept him out the first five games of the year. No. 3 receiver Curtis Samuel is dinged up, as well. He did not play last week against the Bears and has been limited at practice. Samuel is also questionable.

We probably won’t see either Horton or Michel on the field unless somebody else goes down, but the way things are going that’s a distinct possibility.

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Panthers bring back rookie RB Rodney Smith for practice squad

Today, the team announced that they have signed undrafted rookie Rodney Smith to their practice squad.

Even though Mike Davis is playing like a superstar, the Panthers could stand to add more depth at running back. With both Christian McCaffrey and Reggie Bonnafon on injured reserve, the team is looking to a familiar face to help fill that need.

Today, the team announced that they have signed undrafted rookie Rodney Smith to their practice squad.

Smith (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) played his college ball at Minnesota, where he had a stupendous Sophomore season, totaling 1,158 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Smith spent the “offseason” with the Panthers and was one of the final cuts when the team trimmed the roster down to 53 players for the regular season. He’ll be the second back on the practice squad. Pete Guerriero is the other.

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Panthers add another running back to their practice squad

Guerriero was one of four free agent running backs the team tried out on Wednesday.

The Panthers have added more depth at running back by signing former Monmouth standout Pete Guerriero to their practice squad. Guerriero was one of four free agent running backs the team tried out on Wednesday.

Guerriero joins Reggie Bonnafon as one of the two running backs on the practice squad. Bonnafon was elevated to the active roster for last week’s game against the Chargers and is one of this week’s four players who are protected from being signed by other teams.

While Bonnafon has the seniority going for him, there’s an outside chance we could see Guerriero active this week. For one thing, if the team promotes Bonnafon again they’ll have to give him a permanent spot on the roster. They also made Trenton Cannon one of their healthy inactives against the Chargers.

For now, Mike Davis will remain the team’s starter with Christian McCaffrey on the injured reserve list.

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Eagles sign WR/TE Hakeem Butler off Panthers practice squad

Philadelphia is listing the 6-foot-5, 227 pound Butler as a tight end instead of a wide receiver.

With tight end Dallas Goedert going down on Sunday with a small ankle fracture, the Philadelphia Eagles were in need of another red zone weapon.

Today, the team filled that need by signing Hakeem Butler off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. Philadelphia is listing the 6-foot-5, 227 pound Butler as a tight end instead of a wide receiver.

Carolina could still use one of those weapons of their own.

They never really tried to replace Greg Olsen after they released him and their most promising candidate, 6-foot-2 rookie wide receiver Omar Bayless is on injured reserve for the year. After three games, they rank No. 30 in red zone touchdown efficiency.

In related news, the team has reactivated defensive back Natrell Jamerson to the practice squad. He had previously been on the COVID-19/reserve list.

There’s still one open spot on the practice squad following the release of kicker Kai Forbath last week.

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Panthers elevate RB Reggie Bonnafon from practice squad to active roster

Bonnafon offers more depth with All-Pro starter Christian McCaffrey on the injured reserve list due to a high ankle sprain.

The Panthers have elevated running back Reggie Bonnafon from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of tomorrow’s road matchup with the Chargers. Bonnafon offers more depth with All-Pro starter Christian McCaffrey on the injured reserve list due to a high ankle sprain.

The team’s six-year veteran Mike Davis will be starting in McCaffrey’s place this week, so Bonnafon will be backing him up. It’s impossible to know how offensive coordinator Joe Brady will split up the playing time at this spot. It shouldn’t come as a shock if Bonnafon has a significant snap count, though.

Last season, Bonnafon was efficient in his limited action on the field. He posted 116 yards on 16 carries (7.3 yards per rush). Most of that production came in just one game, though – Week 5 against the Jaguars when McCaffrey was injured.

Brady has other rushing options, as well. Trenton Cannon is the other running back on the depth chart and may be used on an occasional third down. The wild cards in his deck are defensive back Myles Hartsfield and wide receivers Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore, who all have some ability as ball-carriers.

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Report: Panthers cut Trumaine Johnson, re-sign Kai Forbath to practice squad

Let him be forever known as Panthers legend Trumaine Johnson.

Let him be forever known as Panthers legend Trumaine Johnson. The former Jets and Rams cornerback didn’t last long in Carolina. Johnson has been released from the team’s practice squad, according to a report by Joe Person at the Athletic.

Johnson was signed six days ago along with kicker Kai Forbath, who got waived on Monday to make room for offensive lineman Aaron Monteiro. Forbath is back on the practice squad now, taking Johnson’s place. This is just the latest in what’s become a revolving door of moves involving the cornerbacks at the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

Late in the offseason, the team signed former Saints cornerback Eli Apple, but he started the season on injured reserve. Apple can return to the active roster as early as next week, though. That may be the reason the Panthers felt they could afford to cut Johnson.

The team also picked up former Eagles corner Rasul Douglas off waivers just before the games began. Douglas has already worked his way into the starting lineup opposite Donte Jackson. It will be interesting to see if that continues once Apple is reactivated.

If the Panthers aren’t don’t searching for more depth at this spot, they could consider bringing back Ross Cockrell. He was signed to the Buccaneers practice squad a few days ago and is unprotected.

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Panthers add secondary, special teams depth with Kai Forbath, Trumaine Johnson

Here is a breakdown of today’s moves.

The Carolina Panthers made a series of moves involving their active roster and their practice squad on Saturday afternoon, bolstering their interior defensive line depth as well as their secondary and special teams units.

Here is a breakdown of today’s roster moves.

DT Woodrow Hamilton elevated to active roster

With two starting defensive linemen out on Sunday, Carolina looked to replenish their roation inside by promoting Woodrow Hamilton to the active roster. Hamilton (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) is entering his fifth season in the NFL, but most of it was spent on the practice squads of the Patriots, Saints and Panthers. Hamilton did log two regular season games in New England but failed to make much of an impact, totaling three combined tackles. This is Carolina’s first of two allowed elevations for Hamilton before he must be signed to their 53-man roster.

CB Trumaine Johnson signed to practice squad

After Donte Jackson’s Week 1 injury, the Panthers were left thin at the position, forced to play Rasul Douglas just days after picking him up off waivers. Although Douglas was a clear winner in that game, the team still needs more help with Eli Apple still on 3-week injured reserve. Enter Trumaine Johnson, the eight-year veteran who has played in over 100 games with the Rams and Jets. Johnson (6-foot-2, 213 pounds) has totaled 392 combined tackles and 23 interceptions with 77 starts. He’s a strong candidate to be elevated to the 53-man roster soon.

K Kai Forbath also signed to practice squad

Like Johnson, Forbath has spent many years in the league playing for several different teams. Now, he joins Carolina’s practice squad just a week after the team release Kaare Vedvik, who was signed as a safety net for Joe Charlton. Although Charlton had two booming punts against the Raiders last week, coach Matt Rhule has maintained his desire to keep an extra leg around. In 81 games Forbath has a career field goal % of 86.8. If Joey Slye continues to struggle with short kicks, he may get a look.

To make room for Forbath and Johnson, the team released a couple of practice squad players.

DB T.J. Green released from practice squad

Cutting Green is a mild surprise, as he was wearing a black jersey early in training camp, denoting his status as a defensive starter. Obviously the defensive coaching staff changed their minds about him, as he was also released when rosters were cut down.

OL Aaron Monteiro also released from practice squad

The signing of Monteiro (6-foot-7, 320 pounds) never made much sense. He was added to the team’s practice squad late last season, but never saw real playing time and failed to make an impression in training camp. Further, the Panthers are currently holding nine offensive linemen on the active roster, one on the COVID-19 reserve list, and three more on the practice squad, leaving little room for another offensive lineman.

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Panthers sign WR Hakeem Butler to practice squad, release undrafted DT

The team just announced that Butler has been added to their practice squad.

The Carolina Panthers have hosted a few interesting free agents this week, including former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler. The team just announced that Butler has been added to their practice squad. To make room for him, they released undrafted defensive tackle Myles Adams.

Butler (6-foot-5, 227 pounds) was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in last year’s NFL draft. While his frame and athletic profile are enticing, the fact that he’s on a practice squad not even a year and a half after getting drafted doesn’t speak well to how things have gone for him in the NFL so far.

Carolina’s offense is still in need of a big-bodied red zone weapon, though. General manager Marty Hurney could be hoping that Butler develops into one after the team lost the promising 6-foot-3 rookie wideout Omar Bayless to the injured reserve list for the season.

The Panthers also have wide receiver Keith Kirkwood currently on the short-term IR list. He will be eligible to return after Week 3.

If any other receivers get injured this week, there’s an outside chance Butler could be active against the Chargers.

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Former Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler visited Panthers

The Panthers hosted former Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler for a visit on Wednesday, according to the league’s transactions report.

The Panthers hosted former Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler for a visit on Wednesday, according to the league’s transactions report.

Butler was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in the 2019 NFL draft coming out of Iowa State. He spent his rookie year on injured reserve and the Cards cut him just before the 2020 season began.

While he’s on his way to earning a bust label, Butler has tantalizing athleticism (36-inch vertical) and size (6-foot-5 and 227 pounds), which helps explain the interest. Carolina never really replaced tight end Greg Olsen after he was released and their biggest receiver – the undrafted rookie Omar Bayless – was placed on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery.

This organization should know as well as any that size doesn’t necessarily make a capable receiver, though. Kelvin Benjamin had a similar frame and he’s currently a free agent after flaming out.

There’s one report that the team is expected to sign Butler to their practice squad but there’s no official word from the Panthers as of yet.

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