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Panthers’ active roster following Thursday’s addition of CB Shaquill Griffin
The Carolina Panthers just got a boost in their secondary.
With injuries continuing to take a toll on the roster, the team claimed cornerback Shaquill Griffin off waivers from the Houston Texans on Thursday. The former Pro Bowler now joins the locker room just a few days ahead of their Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here, in an updated look, is Griffin and his new 49 teammates:
Gallery: 25 photos of new Panthers CB Shaquill Griffin
Here are 25 photos from the seven-year NFL career of new Carolina Panthers cornerback Shaquill Griffin:
The Panthers have claimed former Pro Bowl CB Shaquill Griffin off waivers from the Texans.
Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer is bringing a familiar face to the building.
As announced on Thursday afternoon, the Panthers have claimed cornerback Shaquill Griffin off waivers. The seventh-year defensive back was released by the Houston Texans yesterday.
Griffin was selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks, where Fitterer had been serving as a co-director of player personnel at the time. The University of Central Florida product played four seasons in the northwest—having recorded 249 combined tackles, a sack and six interceptions over 57 games.
The third year of that tenure, the 2019 campaign, resulted in a Pro Bowl nod for Griffin—who earned a career-high overall defensive grade of 77.0 from Pro Football Focus.
He moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 on a three-year, $44.5 million pact. Griffin would only see through two of those years, as he was released by the Jaguars earlier this spring.
Houston came calling just five days later, as they signed Jackson on March 13. He’s started in six of his 10 games this season.
With the Panthers still dealing with a handful of injuries in their secondary—including to cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and CJ Henderson as well as safety Vonn Bell—Griffin will add some much-needed depth to the defense.
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The Texans made several roster moves on Wednesday, including the decision to waive Shaq Griffin
The Houston Texans are making moves.
The team stayed busy on Wednesday afternoon following an announcement that right tackle Tytus Howard, stationed at left guard for most of the 2023 campaign, is going to miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury.
Shortly after the announcement, Houston waived cornerback Shaq Griffin. Griffin started multiple contests for the Texans this season in the absence of Derek Stingley but had played zero snaps at corner the last two games after his interception of Joe Burrow in the Week 10 win over Cincinnati.
Texans had a busy transaction day.
Signed CB Desmond King II and waived Shaquill Griffin.
Placed RT/LG Tytus Howard on injured reserve
Reinstated Denzel Perryman
Signed K Matt Amendola and LB Garrett Wallow to their practice squad and released RB Gerrid Doaks from the PS.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) November 29, 2023
After that, it was a series of roster formalities for Houston around the rest of their team. Altogether, they made the following moves:
Perryman and Ammendola are expected to resume their starting positions at middle linebacker and kicker, respectively, for the team’s game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. King, who was with Houston in the pre-season, may be asked to assist Tavierre Thomas at the nickel cornerback position as he gets up to speed with the defense.
The Houston Texans defense regained its form in the 20-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 6.
HOUSTON — One week after looking absolutely lost at times during the 21-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans defense bounced back to help defeat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 20-13 at NRG Stadium.
Although the defense allowed Derek Carr to finish the game with 353 yards passing, it was not an efficient game for him as he looked sluggish running the offense at times due to the amount of pressure the Texans put on him throughout the game.
“It was on us,” said defensive end Jonathan Greenard. “The offense went out and put points on the board early, and we came out a little sluggish, which going forward we know we can’t do that. We bounced back and made up for that. There is a lot of things that we need to clean up, but it is good to go in the bye week with a win.”
Along with Greenard (7), Will Anderson Jr. (7) and Jerry Hughes (7) were credited with 26 pressures, tied for the third most by any team this season, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. The linebacker group also held their own against Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has seen his production increase since his return from his three-game suspension to start the year. He was held to 104 yards from scrimmage and was blanketed all day by Blake Cashman. The fifth-year veteran finished the game with a combined 15 tackles (nine solo).
“[Blake] Cashman has done a great job for us,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “He had a lot of tackles today, flying around all over the field. Really great in the passing game. He’s done a really good job showing up and making big-time plays for us when we need it most. I’m proud of ‘Cash’ [Blake Cashman] and his development. What he provides is confidence. When we’re out there in passing situations, we know he plays really well in coverage. He’s done a great job of tackling and just playing sideline to sideline.”
From his first press conference when he was hired by the Texans earlier this year, Ryans, the former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, has preached unity and communication on the defensive side of the ball. Through the first five weeks, it has been an up-and-down battle to get all the defenders on the same page, and throughout the game on Sunday, it looked as if players were a half-step off from each other until the Saints’ final three offensive possessions of the game.
“I think the main difference from last week to this week was the communication was on point,” said Texans CB Shaquill Griffin after the game. “We didn’t have no panic. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/1G7jgGSIvu
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 16, 2023
Houston held a slim seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, which may have seemed like a minor obstacle for New Orleans to overcome with their number of offensive weapons. The Texans held them out of the end zone late in the third quarter as the Saints came away with no points after a missed field 29-yard field goal by kicker Blake Grupe.
On their next drive, New Orleans got inside the red zone but turned the ball over on downs after cornerback Shaquill Griffin and Cashman stopped Kamara on 4th and four from the 15-yard line. They threatened to tie the game up on their final possession, reaching the Texans 24-yard line, but cornerback Steven Nelson ended their hopes with an interception
“I think the main difference from last week to this week was the communication was on point,” said Griffin after the game. “We didn’t have no panic. No panic in our blood this whole game, and everybody was talking. It wasn’t just the D-line [Defensive Lineman], it wasn’t just the linebackers, it was everybody as a whole. I even seen coach trying to get an extra call. So, the communication was key, and when you have that, it makes the game so much easier, and it worked out just right.”
Houston heads into the bye week at 3-3, which matches their win total from the 2022 regular season.
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The Houston Texans declared their inactives ahead of Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Houston Texans released their inactives ahead of their Week 5 tilt with the Atlanta Falcons Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Texans already ruled out linebacker Christian Harris (concussion) and tackle Josh Jones (hand) on Friday.
Houston declared cornerback Shaquill Griffin (calf), cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand), running back Dare Ogunbowale, linebacker Garret Wallow, and quarterback Case Keenum inactive.
The Texans are getting back tackles Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard in the lineup.
The Falcons declared offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn, defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham, defensive lineman Joe Gaziano, inside linebacker Andre Smith, receiver Zay Malone, and quarterback Logan Woodside inactive.
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Shaquill Griffin took his return to EverBank Stadium as a chance at revenge.
The Houston Texans got their first victory of the 2023 season Sunday, but for cornerback Shaquill Griffin the 37-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars meant a little bit more.
Griffin, 28, was moved into the Texans’ starting lineup earlier this week after Derek Stingley Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in practice. That set up the veteran cornerback for a chance at redemption against his former team.
After the game, he told Juston Lewis of the Florida Times-Union that he very much considered his matchup against the Jaguars an opportunity for revenge.
“I got released by that team during my surgery. So, it got very personal,” Griffin told Lewis after the game. “You try to give so much to somebody. Even in that year when I was playing with them, playing through those injuries and stuff, I gave everything I had to it.”
Griffin signed with the Jaguars on a three-year, $44.5 million deal in 2021. After a relatively strong first season with the team, the cornerback struggled in 2022 while dealing with a back injury. Griffin allowed a game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter.
While the cornerback told the Times-Union that he hoped to return to the Jaguars in 2023, the team released him in March to clear more than $13.1 million in cap space.
On Sunday, Griffin got his triumphant moment as part of a Texans squad that blew out the Jaguars. After one incomplete pass near the Jacksonville sideline, the cornerback took a chance to chirp at his former teammates.
“I said, ‘I bet y’all miss me,'” Griffin told Lewis. “Some of it was talking trash, some of it was all love. Just had my fun little fun with it.”
Griffin recorded 10 tackles Sunday and Jaguars receivers Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk combined for 94 yards.
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Here are five Texans players to watch as the Jaguars look to bounce back in Week 3:
The Jacksonville Jaguars now sit at 1-1 after suffering a loss in their Week 2 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
While they failed to win their home opener, the Jaguars have a prime opportunity to get back in the win column. On Sunday, Jacksonville hosts the Houston Texans, who lost their first two games of the season.
While the Texans have failed to produce a win so far, they’ve shown flashes of talent.
Here are five Texans players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 3:
The Jaguars are likely to see a familiar face in their opponent’s starting lineup Sunday.
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin is expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday against his former team, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston.
The Houston Texans are likely to turn to Griffin against the Jacksonville Jaguars after second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. reportedly suffered a serious enough hamstring injury in Wednesday practice that the team is considering the injured reserve.
Griffin, 28, began his career with the Seattle Seahawks and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019. When he became a free agent in 2021, the Jaguars signed the cornerback to a three-year, $44.5 million deal.
After a relatively strong first year in Jacksonville, Griffin was a liability in coverage in 2022. Opposing quarterbacks had a 125.0 passer rating when targeting Griffin through the first five weeks of the year before he landed on injured reserve with a back injury. After the season, the Jaguars released the cornerback to clear more than $13 million in salary cap space.
Stingley, 22, was the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and has been off to a good start in his second season. Through the first two games, Stingley was credited by PFF with allowing only two receptions on four targets, although that included a 43-yard gain for Indianapolis Colts tight end Will Mallory.
The Texans are expected to start 30-year-old veteran cornerback Steven Nelson on the other side.
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Houston Texans cornerback Shaquill Griffin gave insight as to who is taking the reins of leadership inside the defensive back room.
Shaquill Griffin has unique insight into the defensive back room.
The former Pro Bowl cornerback is part of a veteran solution in the Houston Texans’ secondary. Through a week and a half of training camp, Griffin has confidence in the personnel.
“Oh, man, we’ve got some studs on defense,” Griffin told reporters Aug. 3 after practice. “That DB room is stacked. It’s definitely a cool group to be a part of, especially competition wise, and getting the chance learn from a lot of the guys.”
Houston’s secondary had Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson as starting cornerbacks last season with Jalen Pitre as one of the starting safety. The Texans signed former San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward to be a leader for the group, principally due to his work with new coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator the past two years. However, the players who were on the roster a year ago are still paragons.
Said Griffin: “I’ve seen Stingley stepping up in a big way. I see Pitre being the leader in that room that we need him to be. Steve is just a savvy vet, so it’s good to just continue to learn from a guy like that. I feel like everyone is taking it a step above in that competition room, so that DB group, you have a bunch of studs in there, so I love to be a part of it.”
The emphasis for the Texans’ scheme under Ryans is to have an attacking 4-3 front. The secondary must stay patient as the opportunities for takeaways will theoretically come from the pressure.
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