The Panthers are shuffling talent with an eye beyond Week 12’s assumed loss
The Carolina Panthers have exited the bye week with a handful of roster moves that may have more impact down the stretch than on their Week 12 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The biggest news it that they have placed tight end Ian Thomas on injured reserve again with another calf injury. This one was suffered during the Week 10 win against the New York Giants in Munich. Thomas started two of the five games he appeared in this season, with three receptions for seven yards on six targets. This may be the end of Thomas’s time in the Carolinas as his contract is up after this season and younger athletes like Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders have taken over the tight end rotation.
To replace Thomas on the roster, the Panthers have elevated Caleb Farley from the practice squad. Farley was the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. While his time with Tennessee was a disappointment, Farley still holds some promise. He played in only twelve games for the Titans due to an extensive and varied injury history. His relative youth and superlative college career as a defensive back for the Virginia Tech Hokies have coaches hopeful that they can revive his NFL prospects in a secondary that is currently still made of spare parts.
The last newsworthy transaction involves another former Virginia Tech athlete: edge Amare Barno. The Panthers have activated his practice window in advance of removing him from injured reserve. He has spent the entire season on injured reserve while rehabbing an ACL tear from last season. Barno has long been a rough-but-promising prospect who has struggled to see the field. He should have plenty of opportunity on a team that is 31st in sacks and 32nd in pressures and pressure percentage.