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Carolina Panthers DST

Player Outlook
The Panthers DST was the worst unit in 2024, and Fantasy managers should avoid the Panthers DST in most leagues this season. At best, you can add the Panthers DST off the waiver wire during the year if things improve in a big way. In 2024, Carolina had just 32 sacks, nine interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. Derrick Brown (knee) being healthy should help the defensive line, as should the addition of pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the NFL Draft. The linebackers are led by Josey Jewell, and Jaycee Horn is a quality cornerback. But we need to see a lot from this defense for the Panthers DST to be Fantasy relevant, so don't have high expectations prior to the season.

Fantasy News

  • Panthers' LaBryan Ray: Out at least one month

    Rotowire
    The Panthers placed Ray (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, which rules him out for at least the first four games of the regular season, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Ray will spend a minimum of four games on IR as he works to recover from a mild high-ankle sprain suffered in mid-August. Once fully healthy, Ray is expected to contribute as a rotational defensive lineman for Carolina. He recorded 41 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, across 16 regular-season games with the team in 2024.
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  • Shy Tuttle: Released by Panthers

    Rotowire
    Carolina released Tuttle on Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports. Tuttle took a pay cut early March, but he nonetheless won't stick on the Panthers' initial 53-man roster. He suited up for 15 regular-season games with the team in 2024 and totaled 46 tackles (22 solo), three passes defended and one forced fumble. Whether with Carolina or elsewhere in the league, Tuttle will be a candidate to resurface in a depth role this season.
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  • Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Takes field Thursday

    Rotowire
    Cherelus suited up for Carolina's 19-10 preseason loss to the Steelers on Thursday, Kassidy Hill and Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site report. Cherelus played 17 defensive snaps during Thursday's preseason finale, so it looks like he's fully recovered from the groin injury that forced him to sit out Carolina's prior exhibition matchup against Houston. He's expected to contribute on special teams while handling a depth role on defense this season.
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  • Panthers' Princely Umanmielen: X-rays clean

    Rotowire
    Umanmielen (shoulder) underwent X-rays, which came back clean, after Thursday's 19-10 preseason loss to the Steelers, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Umanmielen left Thursday's contest in the first half after suffering a shoulder injury, but he appears to have avoided a serious injury. The edge rusher said that his X-rays didn't reveal anything, and he thinks he'll be fine. Umanmielen will now shift his focus to ensuring he's ready for Week 1 versus the Jaguars on Sept. 7.
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  • Panthers' Princely Umanmielen: Ruled out for rest of Thursday

    Rotowire
    Umanmielen (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's preseason contest against the Steelers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Umanmielen suffered a shoulder injury in the first half, and it will now officially bring his night to a premature end. He will now shift his focus to being ready for the team's regular-season opener against the Jaguars on Sept. 7.
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  • Panthers' Princely Umanmielen: Banged up versus Pittsburgh

    Rotowire
    Umanmielen (shoulder) is questionable to return to Thursday's preseason contest versus Pittsburgh, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. Umanmielen sustained a shoulder injury in the first half against the Steelers, and it's currently unknown if he'll be able to return to action. The 23-year-old secured a solo tackle before his departure, and Umanmielen's status will be morth monitoring moving forward.
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  • Titans' T.J. Smith: Signs with Tennessee

    Rotowire
    The Titans signed Smith on Monday. Smith appeared in three regular-season contests with the Panthers last season, recording a pair of tackles. Signing at this stage of the summer would suggest Smith doesn't have a very realistic shot at making the 53-man roster.
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  • Panthers' Derrick Brown: Past oblique injury

    Rotowire
    Brown (oblique) played in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans. Brown was nursing a sore oblique last month but he saw his first action of the preseason versus Houston, playing one defensive series. Brown played in just one regular-season game last season due to a knee injury that required meniscus surgery.
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  • Panthers' Nic Scourton: Has collapsed lung

    Rotowire
    Scourton (chest) suffered a collapsed lung during Thursday's joint practice with the Texans, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. The injury initially presented as heat exhaustion, but further tests revealed a more serious issue, which led to Scourton being taken to a local hospital. He was unable to travel with the team to Houston on Friday, but the good news was that he was cleared to be discharged from the hospital before returning to Charlotte. Scourton is considered week-to-week with the injury, which puts him in jeopardy of missing the Panthers' regular-season opener against the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 7.
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  • Panthers' Nic Scourton: Likely to sit Saturday

    Rotowire
    Scourton (illness) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports. Scourton isn't in line to play Saturday due to heat-related symptoms. The rookie second-rounder was able to overcome a hamstring injury to play in the Panthers' preseason opener against the Browns, when he played 17 snaps (16 on defense, one on special teams) while recording two total tackles, including a sack. Scourton should have enough to time to recover to be available for the Panthers' preseason finale against the Steelers on Thursday.
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  • Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Unlikely to play vs. Houston

    Rotowire
    Cherelus (groin) is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports. Cherelus missed the Panthers' preseason opener against the Browns due to a groin injury, and the issue will keep him out of Saturday's contest as well. The third-year inside linebacker is competing for a depth spot on the 53-man roster, and if he doesn't play Saturday, he'll work on being available for Carolina's preseason finale against Pittsburgh on Thursday. Cherelus played in 13 regular-season games for the Panthers in 2024 and logged 28 tackles (13 solo) while splitting his snaps between defense and special teams.
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  • Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Out for Saturday's preseason game

    Rotowire
    Horn (thumb) won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Texans, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports. Horn injured his thumb in a car accident last Wednesday and required stitches. The team isn't worried about his availability for the regular season, but the standout cornerback won't play in Saturday's preseason game and probably won't be available for the Aug. 21 preseason finale against Pittsburgh, either.
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  • Saints' Mike Panasiuk: Inks deal with New Orleans

    Rotowire
    The Saints signed Panasiuk on Tuesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. After veteran Will Clapp went to injured reserve with a foot injury, New Orleans worked out a couple different centers Tuesday, per Underhill. The team liked what it saw from Panasiuk enough to add him to the squad, but he'll have his work cut out for him to earn a spot on the final 53-man roster.
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  • Panthers' LaBryan Ray: Week-to-week with ankle injury

    Rotowire
    Ray is considered week-to-week due to an ankle issue, Joe Person of The Athletic reports. Per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Ray is dealing with a mild high-ankle sprain. While the defensive end is unlikely to suit up for Saturday's second preseason contest against Houston, the Panthers hope he can return in time to face the Steelers on Thursday, Aug. 21. Ray is on the roster bubble, so it will be imperative for him to heal up as soon as possible so that he can make his case for a spot on the team.
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  • Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Doesn't practice Monday

    Rotowire
    Horn (thumb) did not participate in Monday's practice session, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Horn needed stitches on his left thumb after getting into a car accident Wednesday and did not play in Friday's preseason game against the Browns. Per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, head coach Dave Canales indicated Monday that Horn's injury wouldn't be severe enough for him to miss a regular-season game, but the team will play it cautiously to avoid the risk of infection. Corey Thornton and Akayleb Evans will have opportunities to work opposite Michael Jackson in the first-team defense while Horn is sidelined.
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  • Panthers' DJ Johnson: Four tackles in preseason opener

    Rotowire
    Johnson (concussion) registered four tackles (two solo) during the Panthers' 30-10 preseason loss to the Browns on Friday. Johnson is competing for a backup linebacker spot on the Panthers' final 53-man roster. He played 30 snaps Friday (23 on defense, seven on special teams), and his next chance to audition for a spot on the roster is Saturday, Aug. 16 against the Texans.
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  • Ravens' M.J. Devonshire: Catches on with Baltimore

    Rotowire
    The Ravens signed Devonshire to a contract Saturday. Devonshire was let go by the Panthers in late July with an injury settlement. He's fully recovered from his hamstring injury and will bolster the Ravens' cornerback depth after Bilhal Kone (knee) was placed on injured reserve.
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  • Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Past back issue

    Rotowire
    Wonnum (back) finished Friday's 30-10 preseason loss against the Browns with one assisted tackle. Wonnum worked with the first-team defense and ended up playing 11 snaps. The 2020 fourth-rounder was tending to a back injury during the offseason, but he appears past the issue given his ability to play Friday. Wonnum missed the first nine games of the 2024 regular season due to a lingering quadriceps injury but managed to finish with 37 tackles (18 solo), including 4.0 sacks, one pass defense and one forced fumble across eight games. The Panthers' preseason depth chart has Wonnum starting at outside linebacker alongside Patrick Jones, Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom.
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  • Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Dealing with groin issue

    Rotowire
    Cherelus left Wednesday's training camp practice with a groin injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Cherelus had been participating fully in training camp after spending the last three weeks of last season on injured reserve with a toe injury, but he seems to have suffered another bad stroke of injury luck. As long as Cherelus is sidelined, Jacoby Windmon projects to see increased reps at linebacker.
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  • Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Labeled day-to-day

    Rotowire
    Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Horn (thumb) is considered day-to-day, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports. Canales said Horn "had to have a few stitches in his left thumb area" after being involved in a car accident on his way to team facilities, and that he will not suit up for Friday's preseason opener against the Browns but "hopefully" will be available Aug. 16 versus the Texans. Horn, who attended practice Wednesday as an observer, confirmed via his personal social media accounts that he has avoided any serious injuries.
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