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Gallery: 20 photos of new Panthers TE Curtis Hodges
With tight end Stephen Sullivan hitting injured reserve on Thursday, the Carolina Panthers added back to the room by signing former Washington Commander Curtis Hodges.
Here are 20 photos from Hodges’ college and pro career:
The Panthers added a 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end to the mix on Thursday.
There may be a new face on one of those buses that’s headed over to Clemson, S.C. for tonight.
On Thursday, just a few hours before their 2024 Fan Fest, the Carolina Panthers placed tight end Stephen Sullivan on injured reserve due to a quadriceps injury. They also announced Sullivan’s immediate replacement in the tight end room—former Washington Commander Curtis Hodges.
A Mesa, Ariz. native, Hodges played all five of his collegiate campaigns at nearby Arizona State University. Between 2017 and 2021, he amassed 600 yards and four touchdowns on 36 receptions.
The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder then reached the NFL as an undrafted free-agent signee of the Commanders in 2022. He was placed on injured reserve at the start of what would have been his rookie season later year and did not appear in a game for Washington in 2023 despite making the team’s initial 53-man roster.
Hodges, who still has yet to log a regular-season snap in the NFL, was released by the Commanders on January 8, 2024.
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The Panthers have shelved TE Stephen Sullivan due to a quad injury.
The Carolina Panthers added another player to the shelf on Thursday.
As announced by the team this afternoon, tight end Stephen Sullivan has been placed on injured reserve. The fifth-year veteran will now be sidelined due to a quadriceps injury, just hours before the Panthers kick off their 2024 Fan Fest from Clemson, S.C.
Sullivan was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. That was where the Louisiana State University product would first cross paths with Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan as well as head coach Dave Canales.
Canales, in fact, mentioned Sullivan as one of his summer standouts earlier this week.
“Stephen Sullivan just flashes ability and length, and how he’s been able to attack it,” Canales told reporters on Monday. “I can keep going. But what I hope for is happening—the groups are very competitive. And I hope they continue to push each other as they’re pursuing their best.”
Sullivan has spent each of the last three seasons with the Panthers, amassing 14 receptions and 171 receiving yards over 28 appearances.
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Here’s who has been catching the eye of Panthers HC Dave Canales thus far:
So, who are the early winners of training camp for Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales?
When talking with reporters following Monday’s practice, Canales was asked if there are any players (outside of the usual names) who deserve some recognition from the first week of camp. And while he said there are “a lot of guys” who are performing well, Canales boiled his choices down to a handful.
“I look at the safety group,” he replied. “Nick Scott, Alex Cook. Of course, Jordan [Fuller] and Xavier [Woods] are lookin’ fantastic. But that safety group, I’m just really pleased with how they’re communicating, running to the ball. They’re really showing the effort and strain we’re looking for.
“From a linebacker group—beyond Shaq [Thompson] and Josey [Jewell]— Trevin Wallace. Just watching him fly around—this guy is a special talent. Chased the ball down today after a play, which is what we want—we want the whole group rollin’. So showing that kind of strain.”
Wallace, who was selected with the 72nd overall pick of this year’s draft, has obviously been catching the eyes of Canales and his staff. The 21-year-old Kentucky standout is currently projected as the No. 3 inside ‘backer and could star in the succession plan for Thompson.
Canales then went on offense.
“Offensively, just looking at that receiver room, but also just the things . . . Jordan Matthews, like his effort and the things that he brings in. Stephen Sullivan just flashes ability and length, and how he’s been able to attack it. I can keep going. But what I hope for is happening—the groups are very competitive. And I hope they continue to push each other as they’re pursuing their best.”
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Panthers HC Dave Canales went into some great detail about the developments at the WR and TE positions.
The Carolina Panthers haven’t had the most productive pass catchers in the NFL of late. But perhaps a new offense and a little competition will change that.
First-year head coach Dave Canales spoke with reporters after Wednesday’s session of mandatory minicamp. And as the team heads into a summer break before training camp, Joe Person of The Athletic asked if any competitions have been catching his eye.
“Shoot, I mean, I can’t really speak about one position without speaking about all of them, Joe, honestly,” Canales replied. “Start with the offense—I love the versatility and the players that we have in the tight end room. I think that we have a really strong group there. And so I see a group that they’re all gonna be pushing to see who those guys are.
“And Tommy [Tremble], Ian [Thomas] had a fantastic spring. Ja’Tavion [Sanders] showed that he can play football while he’s still learning stuff about our offense. He wants to know, he’s focused and locked in. Sully, Stephen Sullivan, the talent that he brings, how he can stretch the field, the length that he plays with. And even a guy like Jordan Matthews who understands how critical special teams is—for him to show he can be a reliable player there and then to do some things on offense too that we like.”
The Panthers haven’t seen much out of the tight end spot since the days of franchise great Greg Olsen. Over the past three seasons, all players at the spot have combined for 1,530 yards and eight touchdowns on 154 receptions.
Canales would then touch on the wideouts.
“At the receiver position, we have a bunch of guys that have been here for a while that are so hungry,” he added. “[Adam] Thielen was here, but Terrace Marshall, who’s had a fantastic last couple of weeks. Michael Strachan got back out there and he’s big and fast, just showing what he can do there. Ihmir Smith-Marsette makes a great play every day.
“Of course, having Diontae [Johnson] out there—he brings another element. He’s special. He knows how to play the game. He’s fast, he gets it, he’s a change-of-pace, a little bit different from the guys we have. Xavier [Legette], we gotta get him back out there so we can work him through that. But another good, solid group of guys that are executing what we want them to.”
Following a season full of separation problems, the Panthers added two very intriguing receivers—former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson and 2024’s 32nd overall pick Xavier Legette. Legette, however, has remained sidelined for much of the spring due to a hamstring injury.
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The Panthers signed three players to one-year extensions on Monday.
Firing general manager Scott Fitterer didn’t stop the Carolina Panthers from making some roster moves on Monday.
As announced this afternoon, the team has signed tight end Stephen Sullivan and defensive linemen Nick Thurman and LaBryan Ray to one-year extensions.
Sullivan, who was slated to be a restricted free agent this spring, recorded career-highs in offensive snaps (170) and special teams snaps (185) in 2023. He also notched bests in targets (24), receptions (12) and receiving yards (125).
Thurman and Ray, exclusive rights free agents, will also be returning off the heels of their most productive pro campaigns. Both appeared in each of the Panthers’ 17 games.
Ray registered his first career start in the Week 14 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He finished the year with 19 combined tackles, three of which came in yesterday’s finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Thurman, who played in 34.9 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, ranked eighth on the unit in stops (16).
With the trio inking back on, the Panthers now have two remaining restricted free agents (wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette and tight end Giovanni Ricci) and one remaining exclusive rights free agent (running back Raheem Blackshear).
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Panthers CB Jaycee Horn strapped on the seatbelt to close out the 2023 campaign.
Which Carolina Panthers did well on the final test of the 2023 season?
Here are the best and worst Pro Football Focus grades from the Week 18 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
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
The Panthers have ruled out four players from their Week 10 clash with the Bears, including OLB Brian Burns and CB CJ Henderson.
As expected, the Carolina Panthers won’t have two more key defenders for their latest outing.
Those two players are outside linebacker Brian Burns and cornerback CJ Henderson, both of whom left this past Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts due to concussions. Head coach Frank Reich unofficially ruled out the duo on Tuesday.
Joining them will be wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (ankle) and tight end Stephen Sullivan (shoulder). Fellow pass catcher DJ Chark may be on the sideline as well, as he’s been listed as doubtful with an elbow injury.
Here’s the team’s final injury report a day ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Chicago Bears:
| Injury | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Game status | |
| OLB Brian Burns | Concussion/elbow | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| WR DJ Chark | Elbow | DNP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
| CB CJ Henderson | Concussion | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| WR Laviska Shenault Jr. | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| TE Stephen Sullivan | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
| S Xavier Woods | Thigh | DNP | DNP | Limited | Questionable |
| S Vonn Bell | Quadriceps | Full | Full | Full | Questionable |
| RB Raheem Blackshear | Ankle | Full | Full | Full | – |
| LT Ikem Ekwonu | Ankle | Full | Full | Full | – |
| OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. | Back | Full | Full | Full | Questionable |
| LB Frankie Luvu | Hip | Full | Full | Full | – |
| TE Tommy Tremble | Shoulder | Full | Full | Full | – |
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The Panthers have placed TE Ian Thomas (calf) on injured reserve.
The Carolina Panthers will be down yet another player for their daunting Week 6 trip to see the Miami Dolphins.
As announced by the team on Saturday afternoon, tight end Ian Thomas has been placed on injured reserve. Thomas, who popped up on yesterday’s injury report with a calf issue, will now be sidelined for at least the next four weeks.
Thomas is currently in his sixth season with the Panthers. A 2018 fourth-round selection, who was signed to a three-year, $16.95 million extension last winter, has caught 113 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns over 87 career games.
The 27-year-old has played in all five outings with a pair of starts for Carolina in 2023. He’s reeled in two catches for 36 yards on four targets.
Taking his place on the active roster will be fellow tight end Stephen Sullivan, who began the season on injured reserve due to a hip injury. He was designated to return from the shelf back on Oct. 4 and practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday.
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