Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver David Moore (83) takes the field during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers WR David Moore reaches 1-year deal

The Carolina Panthers welcomed back wide receiver David Moore on a one-year contract Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Panthers.

Moore, 30, had 32 catches for 351 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (five starts) last season, his first in Carolina.

Head coach Dave Canales knows Moore from their mutual stints in Seattle and Tampa Bay.

Moore has totaled 115 receptions for 1,608 yards and 17 TDs in 74 career games (19 starts) with the Seahawks (2017-20), Denver Broncos (2021), Green Bay Packers (2021), Buccaneers (2023) and Panthers.

–Field Level Media

Aug 12, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson (7) takes the field during the first quarter against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers moving on from veteran LB Shaq Thompson

The Carolina Panthers will not re-sign veteran outside linebacker Shaq Thompson, allowing the former first-round draft pick to enter free agency.

“We appreciate Shaq’s leadership and dedication over the past 10 seasons, general manager Dan Morgan said in a statement Monday. “Always a source of passion and enthusiasm, he was committed to this organization on and off the field, poured into his teammates, and strived to bring out the best in them.

“We wish Shaq the best as he moves forward with his career.”

Injuries limited Thompson, 30, to four games in 2024 (torn Achilles) and two games in 2023 (broken ankle).

He has recorded 752 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions in 123 games (112 starts) since Carolina drafted him with the 25th overall pick in 2015 out of Washington.

Thompson helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50 during his rookie season and climbed to fourth place in team history in tackles, trailing Luke Kuechly (1,092), Thomas Davis (1,077) and Mike Minter (771).

Thompson, who turns 31 in April, told reporters in January that he hoped to end his career with Carolina.

“Be one of those guys in history that played with one team. But it’s up to them,” he said. “These two injuries … it happens. All I can do is get better and come back strong.”

Thompson played last season on a one-year, $3.1 million deal, per Spotrac. The five-time team captain tallied 35 tackles in four starts before injuring his Achilles in a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine (34) runs around end chased by Carolina Panthers cornerback Dane Jackson (23) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers part ways with CB Dane Jackson

The Carolina Panthers released veteran cornerback Dane Jackson on Friday.

Jackson spent four years with the Buffalo Bills before signing with the Panthers last offseason. He was placed on injured reserve during training camp with an ailing hamstring before returning to record 23 tackles and two passes defensed in nine games (three starts).

Jackson, 28, has totaled 175 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in 61 career games (31 starts) with the Bills and Panthers. He was selected in the seventh round by Buffalo in the 2020 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) runs for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Bryce Young, Panthers prevail in OT as Falcons miss playoffs

ATLANTA — Miles Sanders rushed for the game-winning 1-yard touchdown in overtime and the visiting Carolina Panthers beat the Falcons 44-38 in the season finale on Sunday, eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.

Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground, as Carolina (5-12) scored a season-high 44 points.

Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win paired with a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans in order to win the division. Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.

The Panthers won the first possession of overtime and never let it go, driving 70 yards to end the game with a touchdown and keep the ball out of Atlanta’s hands.

Trailing 24-17 at halftime, Carolina tied the game after Mike Jackson intercepted Penix’s pass, leading to Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 10:43 left in the third quarter.

After Riley Patterson missed a 52-yard field goal, Carolina regained the lead with Young’s 9-yard touchdown pass to David Moore with 1:02 remaining in the third.

The Falcons matched the score with Penix’s 21-yard touchdown strike to London at the 9:50 mark of the final quarter, tying the game at 31.

Carolina then scored on its third straight drive, as Young’s 10-yard rushing touchdown stamped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with 4:01 left in the game.

Robinson’s second rushing score, this time a 4-yarder, tied the game at 38 with 46 seconds remaining.

The teams traded field goals on their opening drives. After the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at the Panthers’ 42-yard line, Carolina scored the game’s first touchdown on Young’s 2-yard scramble with 10:47 left in the second quarter.

Atlanta answered with a 70-yard drive that included London’s 24-yard reception and Robinson’s 15-yard rush, before Penix ran it from 5 yards out to knot the score at 10 with 5:27 left in the half.

Carolina then took a 17-10 lead on Young’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Sanders, but Robinson tied the game again with a 3-yard rushing score.

Following a Carolina punt, Penix led Atlanta on an 81-yard drive in 37 seconds, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass to London with three seconds left for a 24-17 halftime lead.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Dec 1, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (24) runs for yardage against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks set for another ACL surgery

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks will see his season end after just three games and nine total carries after he tore the ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On a first-quarter run, Brooks planted his right foot in an attempt to cut to the outside and went down with a non-contact injury. He tried to limp off the field but had to be helped to the sideline.

A second-round draft pick out of Texas, Brooks was still recovering from ACL surgery on the same knee when the current season began. His previous ACL injury occurred in Texas’ victory over TCU in November 2023.

Brooks, 21, made his NFL debut in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs and gained 7 yards on two carries. He gained 18 yards on six carries in Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before he was injured on his lone carry Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) reacts after a sack in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Panthers rule out LB Jadeveon Clowney (knee) vs. Eagles

One day after it seemed he was likely to play, the Carolina Panthers ruled out pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a knee injury.

Clowney, 31, has 3.5 sacks in 10 games during his first season with the Panthers, collecting 2.5 of those in the past two games, both losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had 9.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens last season.

Clowney was listed as questionable Friday, with all signs pointing to him being on the field against the Eagles.

“I expect him to play right now,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Friday.

The Panthers also downgraded safety Nick Scott (hamstring/personal) to out on Sunday after he did not practice Friday. He is in the middle of a three-week window to be activated from injured reserve.

Wide receiver Dan Chisena and linebacker Jacoby Windmon were elevated from the practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA;  Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (24) walks off the field after the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks to debut vs. Chiefs

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks will make his debut this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Dave Canales said Monday.

Brooks, 21, was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At 46th overall, the former University of Texas standout was the first running back off the board.

Brooks has been rehabbing from surgery last November to repair a torn ACL. The Panthers activated him from the non-football injury list last month and moved him to the active roster on Nov. 6.

Brooks will join the backfield with Chuba Hubbard, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 818 rushing yards. Canales said Miles Sanders (ankle) is not expected to play when the Panthers (3-7) return from their bye week to host the Chiefs (9-1).

Bryce Young will remain the quarterback after winning consecutive starts before the bye against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

“This is about the continued progress, Bryce looking more and more confident,” Canales said Monday. “Just an aggressiveness to his play … and of course the end result, winning.

“He continues to do things to put us in a position to put him back out there and continue to build on that.”

Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns in 2023 before his knee injury.

–Field Level Media

NFL Carolina Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum

Report: Panthers DL D.J. Wonnum expected make season debut vs. Giants

Edge rusher D.J. Wonnum is expected to play for the first time in almost a year on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers face the New York Giants in Munich, Germany, ESPN reported Saturday.

Wonnum hasn’t played since sustaining a torn quadriceps muscle late in a Christmas Eve game last season while playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite the injury, the Panthers signed Wonnum to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million in March.

An infection and eventual blood clots have slowed Wonnum’s recovery. After practicing the past two weeks, however, Panthers coach Dave Canales said Friday that his positive performance in practice opened up the “possibility” of returning to play.

Wonnum, 27, had 62 tackles and eight sacks in 15 games (14 starts) last season with the Vikings, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of South Carolina. He registered 171 tackles and 23 sacks in 62 career games (31 starts).

The Panthers (2-7) face the Giants (2-7) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media