Carolina Panthers

Jamerson passed the necessary protocols and can return to team activities. The Wisconsin product could be bumped up to the active roster if injuries pop up.

The undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan was vying for a reserve tight-end role, but the Panthers opted to keep just two tight ends -- Ian Thomas (toe) and Chris Manhertz. Ricci proved to have pass-catching upside in college, hauling in 51 passes for 642 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season, so the Panthers may look to develop him on the practice squad.

Former XFL star P.J. Walker has jumped Grier on the depth chart and will back up Teddy Bridgewater during Sunday's divisional clash. Grier -- a third-round pick in 2019 -- will watch from the press box, and he'll need to battle hard in practice to reclaim the No. 2 job.

Reed has resided on the list since Sept. 1, so it's certainly good news to see him return to the team. With both Dennis Daley (ankle) and John Miller (groin) dealing with injuries, Reed could suit up in Sunday's game against the Chargers as a depth lineman.

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native had been extraordinary in coverage coming into Sunday's matchup against the Bears, holding opponents to a 55.4 passer rating (on 15 attempts) when targeting him in coverage. Sam Franklin will step in for Burris at strong safety so long as the starter is unable to return to action.

Thomas-Oliver missed Sunday's loss to the Raiders due to a hamstring injury, but it looks as though he's already managed a full recovery. Of course, even if he's available, the rookie seventh-round pick could end up a healthy scratch versus Tampa Bay in Week 2.

Guerriero spent time with the Jets during training camp, and he'll now handle an emergency role for the Panthers while Christian McCaffrey (ankle) continues his recovery. As Getzenberg notes, Guerriero led the FCS in rushing last season.

Orr went undrafted but has found an opportunity in Carolina. The Wisconsin product earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 during his redshirt senior season. He recorded 11.5 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. His 11.5 sacks were a school record by an inside linebacker. With Luke Kuechly retired, there is certainly a chance for Orr to make an impression at linebacker.

Hyman capped off the 2019 season by making his NFL debut with the Buccaneers and suiting up in two games, recording two receptions for 34 yards. The Panthers have a solid wide-receiver corps, though, so Hyman was facing an uphill battle. He'll seek a depth role elsewhere if the Panthers don't retain him on the practice squad.

Cannon served as Mike Davis' backup at tailback and did decently with his handful of touches. In fact, with a long reception of 19 yards, Cannon actually outgained Davis through the air. As long as Christian McCaffrey and Reggie Bonnafon remain sidelined with ankle injuries, expect Cannon to serve behind Davis and hold very mild fantasy value.

The undrafted free agent out of Mississippi is proving his versatility as he looks to snag a roster spot for the 2020 season. Hartsfield isn't entirely new to the position, as he played there in high school, and he could potentially be emergency depth for the Panthers. With Christian McCaffrey set for another season with 300-plus touches, there won't be much to go around for his backups.

Ferris reverted back to the team's IR after he was waived/injured by the team Aug. 1. He was a two-time First-Team AP All-American at NAIA Montana Western the past two seasons, ranking third in the nation in tackles per game.

Johnston is coming off an ACL injury sustained during his final season at Baylor, so his odds to make the regular-season roster were always slim. The Rams could be motivated to allow the Hard Knocks standout a year to develop on the practice squad.

Stanford had been dealing with an ankle injury since Week 16 of last season, so his participation in any capacity is obviously good news. The 28-year-old saw a limited role on defense last season, but could compete for a more significant one if he can recover in time for training camp.

The 27-year-old was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's loss to the Saints, but he didn't end up active for the contest. Michel has yet to appear in an NFL game since going undrafted out of Massachusetts in 2016.

The undrafted free agent out of Minnesota has passed COVID-19 protocols and will add depth at running back for the Panthers. However, Christian McCaffrey (ankle) is eligible to come off IR in Week 6 against the Bears, and if that comes to fruition, Smith likely won't be elevated to the active roster.

Slye's only miss came on a 65-yard attempt that would've set an NFL record while tying the game with under two minutes remaining. The big-legged kicker was just short on that try, but he converted from 43 yards on his prior field-goal attempt Sunday. Through seven games, Slye now sports 64 points, and he has a great chance to add to that hefty total in Week 8 versus the Falcons.

Jackson has battled this toe injury all season, and although he hasn't missed a game, he's been on a pitch count nearly every contest. He's averaged just 28.3 defensive snaps per contest over the past four games, but he handled a 50 percent snap share last week against the Bears. The LSU product will look to stay on the field in this divisional clash, but he's tough to depend on in IDP fantasy formats, even though he's posted five pass breakups and two interceptions.

The newly acquired Whitehead collected six or more tackles in each of his first three games as a Panther, and he was not designated with an injury immediately following the team's Week 3 win over the Chargers. Whitehead popped up on the injury report Saturday, though the severity of the issue does not seem especially prohibitive given that he will not miss any game time. The 30-year-old will be tasked with helping the Panthers contain Arizona's seventh-ranked rushing attack (149.7 yards per game).

The team hasn't announced whether Larsen tested positive for COVID-19 or if the move is related to contact-tracing protocols. Regardless, the Panthers will need to rely on someone else should starting center Matt Paradis suffer an injury.

Kerr has dealt with the toe injury for a couple of weeks now but hasn't missed a game. However, this is the first practice that he's missed because of the injury, although that may just be a result of the shortened practice week ahead of Thursday's tilt against the Falcons. His Wednesday practice status will be more revealing, but if he's forced to miss time, rookie Bravvion Roy appears next in line to start at defensive tackle.

The 26-year-old wideout from Concordia-Moorhead (MN) took advantage of increased playing time Week 17, logging a game high in receiving yards as Carolina's No. 1 WR D.J. Moore sat out with a concussion. Zylstra fielded a season-high 24 percent of Carolina's offensive snaps Week 16 when Moore went down with injury in the first quarter of a blowout loss to Indianapolis, but in the season finale against New Orleans, he was even more involved, finishing behind only Christian McCaffrey in targets among Panthers players. With one year remaining on his current deal, Zylstra will strive to carry his newfound momentum into 2020 in pursuit of a more integral role within Carolina's offensive attack.

Palardy suffered a torn ACL on his kicking leg earlier this offseason, ending his 2020 campaign before it began. The Panthers signed punter Kaare Vedvik off waivers Thursday to compete with Joseph Charlton for the starting job in Palardy's absence.

The rookie fourth-round pick will make his third start of the season, and he's been a consistent contributor all year. With Douglas out, Pride is expected to handle a full workload with little competition. He's had typical rookie growing pains in coverage this season, allowing a 132.2 passer rating and two touchdowns when targeted, but Sunday's matchup should be a bit easier because Michael Thomas (ankle/hamstring) and Emmanuel Sanders (COVID-19) are both inactive.

The Browns will save nearly $2.5 million against the salary cap in 2020, and Taylor will be immediately available to sign with a new team. The 29-year-old linebacker played just 54 defensive snaps in 2019, but he did contribute on special teams. He'll likely seek a similar role with another franchise.

Hector played sparingly for the Eagles in the last two seasons, logging 135 snaps on defense and 39 plays on special teams in 11 appearances en route to two tackles and a half sack. Upon joining Carolina, he'll act as depth at defensive tackle as training camp proceeds.

Anderson tied Curtis Samuel for the team lead in receptions, checked in second in receiving yards and set the pace in targets. The offseason acquisition's chemistry with fellow new arrival Teddy Bridgewater has been excellent from the start, and Anderson has now posted at least Sunday's reception and receiving yardage tallies in five of seven games. The veteran speedster will look to keep the momentum going against the vulnerable Falcons secondary in a Thursday night Week 8 matchup.

The 32-year-old was labeled doubtful to return and unsurprisingly never retook the field. Okung will have a short week to recover for Thursday's matchup with the Falcons. Greg Little served as the replacement at left tackle for Carolina.

Boston has notched 15 stops over his last two outings, bringing his season tally to 39 ahead of Thursday's Week 8 meeting with the Falcons.

Coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow bring along their trusty nose tackle from Baylor, where Roy (6-foot-1, 332 pounds) anchored a strong Baylor run defense. With 61 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 2019, Roy has some disruptive abilities, too. This looks like a nice pick for the Panthers.

Carter played a depth role in Carolina's linebacker corps for the majority of the season, but he was afforded the opportunity to close out the campaign with back-to-back starts while Shaq Thompson (shoulder) was sidelined. Much of the second-year player's production came Week 17 against the Saints, during which he recorded 11 tackles (eight solo). Carter stands to fill a reserve role in 2020, so he won't be on the fantasy radar in IDP formats.

After missing practice Friday, but he shook off the illness in time. Paradis will start at center for Week 16's matchup.

Obada's roster spot isn't very secure considering the team was willing to run the risk of having him go through waivers, but the defensive lineman should be on the Week 1 roster against the Raiders now that he's back on the 53-man roster.

The rookie second-round pick exited last Sunday's win over the Falcons with the ankle injury and was unable to practice this week, and he'll now miss at least the next three games while on injured reserve. It's unclear if Gross-Matos is expected to be sidelined beyond the three-game minimum. Stephen Weatherly and Marquis Haynes should see increased reps for the Panthers, especially with Brian Burns in the concussion protocol.

The undrafted rookie out of Temple finished last week's game after Burris departed, and he posted two solo tackles. Franklin should handle a full workload as long as he holds his own, and he could have a busy day trying to slow down Saints running back Alvin Kamara.

Roberts spent time on the COVID-19/reserve and PUP list during training camp but now finally appears to be fully healthy. Tough timing for the 2019 undrafted free agent, as roster cuts loom this weekend. If he didn't do enough to secure a spot on the roster, Roberts could be a candidate for the practice squad.

Carolina initially waived Frazier after he broke his arm during OTAs, but he reverted to the team's injured reserve list after going unclaimed by the league's other 31 clubs. Since Frazier's injury isn't anything that would sideline him for the entire 2019 campaign, he likely asked for his release so he could sign elsewhere once he returns to full strength.

Weatherly signed in the offseason with the Panthers, though it was unclear if he'd be ready to make his debut with the team. Officially active, Weatherly should serve as a rotational pass-rusher along the Panthers' defensive line.

Kaskey will make his NFL debut in Sunday's game against the Colts as a depth offensive lineman. However, it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old will actually see the field.

This transaction became inevitable once Rhule clarified Wednesday that Short would require season-ending surgery. Short earned two Pro Bowl nods over his first six years in the NFL, but given his latest setback, he will end up playing just five games between 2019 and 2020 combined. The 31-year-old missed 14 games last season due to a torn rotator cuff, and his 2020 campaign has been limited to just three appearances because of yet another shoulder injury.

Davis may be coming off his most lackluster fantasy effort since officially taking over for McCaffrey in Week 3, but he'll draw an opponent Thursday night he's already had tremendous success against this season. When Davis and the Panthers squared off against Atlanta in Week 5, he carried the ball 16 times for 89 yards, adding in nine catches for 60 yards and a score. This could very well be the last time Davis has a lead role, however, with McCaffrey expected to be back Week 9 in Kansas City. Davis has proven to be a plenty capable replacement for this year's consensus No. 1 fantasy draft pick, however, and could very well still see a handful of touches per game as McCaffrey is eased back in.

With Thompson sitting out, Chris Manhertz will serve as the lone backup option behind starting tight end Ian Thomas. Fullback Alex Armah is capable of shifting over to tight end if the Panthers require another option at the position in an emergency.

Elder missed Friday's practice due to the ailment and, as evidenced by this news, hasn't felt better in warmups. His absence likely won't have much impact Sunday, especially considering he's primarily used on special teams.

Chinn also defended a pass for the third straight game. Besides Week 6, when Chinn compensated with an interception, the rookie has totaled at least seven tackles in every game this season, making him a reliable IDP commodity.

Larkin, who had a short stint on the Falcons' active roster in 2019, will be making his first official appearance with the Panthers entering Week 6. Expect him to act as defensive-line depth for the time being.

Kirkwood spent the first five weeks on IR with a broken clavicle before making his season debut in this past Sunday's loss to the Bears, logging a 51 percent snap share and hauling in one of two targets for 13 yards. The 26-year-old wideout re-injured his left clavicle during the game and will be shut down until a Week 10 matchup against the Buccaneers, at the earliest.

Cooper hadn't been targeted in Carolina's first four games, mainly sticking to return duties, but in playing just under a quarter of the offensive snaps Sunday, he was able to get off the mark with a reception. Such limited involvement severely caps Cooper's fantasy value, but he at least made the stat sheet in Week 5.

While McCaffrey is back practicing with the team this week, it was seemingly always a bit of a long shot that he'd beat his timetable and suit up Week 8 against the Falcons. He still isn't formally ruled out for the contest, but the team also has yet to activate him from IR, thus his absence from the official injury report that would have detailed his practice participation. Look for the backfield to once again be led by Mike Davis, with Trenton Cannon available if needed in a reserve capacity.

A second-round pick of Carolina in 2019, Little's rookie campaign was plagued by injuries, namely two concussions and knee and ankle issues. The health concerns limited him to four appearances, including three starts. Little kicked off camp on the PUP list, but his stay there lasted four days before the Panthers' medical staff deemed him healthy enough to participate.

Walker has usurped second-year pro Will Grier, who is inactive Sunday, as the No. 2 quarterback for Carolina. The former XFL star has yet to make his NFL debut, but he could be deployed if Bridgewater suffers an injury.

Hamilton has played in one game this season, recording a solo tackle in Week 2. With Zach Kerr (toe) questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears and Kawann Short (shoulder) on injured reserve, Hamilton will act in a depth role at defensive tackle.

In the wake of Christian McCaffrey suffering a high ankle sprain Week 2, Bonnafon was elevated from the practice for both of the Panthers' past two games. In Week 4 in particular, Bonnafon produced in a reserve role behind Mike Davis, totaling 10 carries for 53 yards and two catches (on two targets) for 18 yards and one touchdown. That said, he may have lost his chance to contribute much, as he's likely well behind McCaffrey in his recovery from a similar injury. With a multi-week absence on tap, Bonnafon will yield secondary RB reps to Trenton Cannon and Curtis Samuel in the short term.

Despite checking in third in receptions on the team for the afternoon, Moore set the pace in receiving yards, largely due a game-long 74-yard grab that went for an early second-quarter touchdown. Moore would add a seven-yard scoring catch shortly before halftime, with the pair of trips to the end zone counting as his second and third of the campaign. Moore now curiously has three consecutive 93-yard tallies, and he'll look to boost that up enough to eclipse the century mark for the second time when he sees the vulnerable Falcons secondary in a Thursday night Week 8 divisional battle.

Manhertz started at tight end and played nearly 80 percent of Carolina's offensive snaps, topping teammate Ian Thomas' involvement. That extra time allowed Manhertz to make his longest play of the season, but otherwise the veteran stuck to blocking. In contrast, Thomas was targeted five times and scored a touchdown, but his five total receiving yards Sunday again evidenced just how limited the Panthers' tight-end production has been to date.

Thompson comfortably led Carolina in stops, putting together a season-high tally in the process. The veteran has registered double-digit tackles in every other game thus far, including 10 against his Week 8 opponent, the Falcons, earlier this year.

It's tough to be a long snapper with a hand injury, so Jansen's quick recovery is great news for Carolina's special teams.

Bridgewater was back in the stadium that hosted several of the 2019 performances that helped score him a lucrative free-agent contract, and he bounced back from a rocky Week 6 outing against the Bears in Sunday's loss. The veteran averaged an impressive 9.1 yards per attempt while connecting with D.J. Moore for both of his touchdown tosses and hitting six different pass catchers overall. Bridgewater was nearly able to lead Carolina on what would have been a game-winning drive, but the march stalled at the Saints' 47-yard line with a sack and Joey Slye subsequently fell just short of drilling a 65-yard field-goal attempt. Despite the disappointing team outcome Sunday, Bridgewater once again delivered for fantasy managers and will look to help the Panthers get back in the win column against the Falcons in a Week 8 Thursday night battle.

Burns got to Drew Brees during the second quarter, forcing a fumble in Carolina territory. The second-year pro also defended a pass while putting together a season high in tackles Sunday, marking a strong all-around performance. Through seven games, Burns now boasts 27 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles, giving him great momentum ahead of Thursday's matchup against the Falcons.

This may have been in the works for a few days because Joey Slye was on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Slye has been lifted and will kick for the Panthers on Sunday against the Saints, however, so Bertolet will simply add depth at kicker.

Schofield has either contracted the virus or came into close contact with an infected person. Either way, he'll need to pass the NFL's COVID-19 protocols before returning to team activities. His absence will hurt the team's offensive line depth, but he hasn't started a game since Week 2.

Moton was expected to suit up despite battling the knee issue, so his inclusion in the lineup isn't a surprise. The 2017 second-round pick should assume his usual starting role as the team's right tackle.

The 26-year-old previously played at 235 pounds, but he's added a little weight this offseason for the Panthers' new defensive coaching staff. Haynes filled a rotational role in 11 games last season and had 12 total tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.

Miller will miss his first game of the 2020 season after he missed Thursday and Friday's practice with the ankle issue. With Miller sidelined, expect Dennis Daley to take over as the team's starting right guard for Week 7.

Bayless underwent knee surgery Tuesday, a procedure that carried an expected recovery timetable of roughly two weeks. Though the undrafted rookie appeared to have a shot at getting healthy for Week 1, the Panthers have opted to shut him down. The Arkansas State product will turn his attention to 2021.

Robinson played safety at West Virginia before leaving school early to join the XFL, but the headstart as a professional wasn't enough to secure a roster spot. He's an intriguing, speedy player with ball-hawk abilities, but the 21-year-old is still raw and will need to develop on the practice squad to begin the season.

Brown also registered a quarterback hit, putting forth a strong showing the middle of Carolina's defense. Through six games, the rookie first-rounder has made 13 tackles, including 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage, but he's still awaiting his first career sack.

Daley has yet to suit up in any game action this season after suffering a badly sprained ankle in training camp. This is certainly positive news regarding his chances to play in Week 5, and if he indeed plays, he'll likely take on a starting role as the team's left guard.

Thomas' output from Sunday was right in line with his prior outings this season, as he's not yet topped two catches or 20 yards through any of Carolina's seven games. As a result, fantasy expectations of Thomas should remain low despite a favorable matchup against the Falcons in Week 8.

The former part-time college running back displayed some of his skills on the ground with his late-third quarter scoring run up the middle, his first time finding the end zone on his 15 rush attempts this season. Samuel's reception tally was also a season-best figure, and he's now posted a solid 11-84 line with a perfect catch rate over his last pair of contests. The versatile third-year pro will look to continue producing in a Week 8 Thursday night matchup versus the Falcons.

Juston Burris (ribs) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, so the Panthers are bringing in Chandler to add depth in the secondary. Chandler played just three defensive snaps over three games with the Giants this season, and he'll likely handle reserve duties while Jeremy Chinn, Tre Boston and Sam Franklin operate as the top three safeties.

The 25-year-old will be unavailable for Sunday's game at New Orleans as a result of the move. It's unclear if Douglas contracted COVID-19 himself or if he's been in contact with someone who has the virus. Eli Apple figures to have an increased role in his absence.

Scott had to spend only a handful of days on the COVID-19 list as this transaction means he'll be eligible to suit up for Sunday's contest in New Orleans. The third-year pro stands to contribute in his usual role as a depth offensive tackle.

Armah already has three touches through Carolina's first two games, as coordinator Joe Brady looks to diversify his options out of the backfield with occasional fullback usage. Although Armah's production hasn't been anything special, he at least gets rewarded for his blocking with a touch here and there. Furthermore, if tailback Christian McCaffrey, who exited late with an ankle concern Sunday, is limited going forward, Armah could stand to get a couple more looks in Week 3 versus the Chargers.