CHARLOTTE, NC - Carolina set its Season 33 53 with a two-QB room, a deep receiver group, and a front seven built on length and waves. After cutdown, they made multiple follow-ups-trading a veteran, claiming two players off waivers, and finalizing a 17-man practice squad.
The big picture
Dave Canales and Dan Morgan prioritized flexibility: size and rotation on the edges, young interior depth, and speed at receiver/returner. Special teams keeps continuity with JJ Jansen while a rookie wins the kicking job.
Initial 53 (by position)
QB (2): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
RB (3): Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne
WR (7): Tetairoa McMillan, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Brycen Tremayne, David Moore, Jimmy Horn Jr.
TE (4): Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, James Mitchell
OL (9): Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Yosh Nijman, Cade Mays, Chandler Zavala
DL (6): Derrick Brown, A'Shawn Robinson, Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, Cam Jackson, Jaden Crumedy
OLB (6): Patrick Jones II, DJ Wonnum, Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen, Thomas Incoom, DJ Johnson
ILB (4): Christian Rozeboom, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus, Bam Martin-Scott
CB (5): Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, Chau Smith-Wade, Corey Thornton, Akayleb Evans
S (4): Tre'von Moehrig, Nick Scott, Lathan Ransom, Demani Richardson
Specialists (3): Ryan Fitzgerald (K), Sam Martin (P), JJ Jansen (LS)
Who was cut (and other moves)
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Released (vested): Hunter Renfrow (WR), Shy Tuttle (DT), Boogie Basham (OLB), Krys Barnes (LB), Jon Rhattigan (LB)
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Waived: Ja'seem Reed (WR), Bryce Pierre (TE), Jarrett Kingston (OL), Brandon Walton (OL), Michael Tarquin (OL), Jared Harrison-Hunte (DE), Sam Roberts (DT), Maz (Mapalo) Mwansa (LB), Shemar Bartholomew (CB), Michael Reid (CB), Trevian Thomas (S)
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Waived/Injured: Ja'Tyre Carter (G)
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Injury settlement: Raheem Blackshear (RB)
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IR - Designated to return: LaBryan Ray (DE)
Subsequent moves after cutdown
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Trade: Adam Thielen to Vikings for draft compensation.
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Claims: CB Damarri Mathis (from DEN), WR Dalevon Campbell (from LAC).
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Follow-ups: Jaden Crumedy waived from 53 and re-signed to practice squad; PS updated (see below).
Practice squad (current, 17)
Hendon Hooker (QB), Ainias Smith (WR), DeeJay Dallas (RB), Kalen King (CB), Jaden Crumedy (DT), Krys Barnes (LB), Boogie Basham (OLB), Jared Harrison-Hunte (DE), Jarrett Kingston (OL), Mapalo Mwansa (LB - IPP exemption), Bryce Pierre (TE), Ja'seem Reed (WR), Michael Reid (CB), Sam Roberts (DT), Michael Tarquin (OT), Trevian Thomas (S), Brandon Walton (OL)
What it means
Carolina's defense is built to toggle fronts and send waves off the edge. With Scourton/Umanmielen backing veterans Wonnum/Jones, Ejiro Evero can mix simulated pressures without sacrificing run fits, while Derrick Brown anchors a thicker interior. The secondary adds length and competition-Thornton makes it as a UDFA, and Mathis arrives with Evero familiarity.
On offense, the staff kept it light at QB (2) and lean at RB (3) to carry a broader WR room and four tight ends-fuel for play-action, shifts, and condensed formations. Trading Thielen clarified the profile: more youth and vertical juice with Legette/McMillan/Horn Jr., while Campbell replaces some size/speed on the boundary. The practice squad is purpose-built: a third QB (Hooker), perimeter depth (Smith/King), and trench reinforcements for quick elevations.
