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Carolina Panthers Enhance Preseason CB Room With Signings, Waive Rookie RB

With the Panthers slated to return to practice Tuesday, the NFL franchise executed a flurry of moves to help reshape the preseason roster.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Secondary help is coming for the Carolina Panthers.  

Rookie running back Dillon Johnson assisted in the NFL team’s first touchdown since Christmas Eve, but it wasn’t enough to preserve a spot on the preseason roster.  

As the Panthers return to practice Tuesday, changes continue to envelop the rebuilding franchise. The Panthers, who dropped Saturday night’s 15-12 loss to the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium, will begin preparation for their exhibition finale next Saturday at the Buffalo Bills with several new faces.  

Panthers Bulk Up CB Depth With Signings  

With potential CB2 Dane Jackson suffering a hamstring injury last week during training camp and reserves Lamar Jackson and Anthony Brown departed Saturday’s game with injuries and did not return. Dane Jackson is out “six-ish weeks,” coach Dave Canales said. Lamar Jackson also was waived with an injury designation.   

Following Monday’s workout, the Panthers signed free-agent cornerbacks Quandre Mosely and Chris Wilcox, adding depth to the depleted cornerback room.  

Mosley, 25, has dressed for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wilcox, 26, has NFL experience with the Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers. He was a 2021 seventh-round draft pick by the Bucs. 

To create roster space, the Panthers placed Brown and quarterback Jake Luton on injured reserve, waived injured wide receiver Tayvion Robinson and cut Johnson.  

The Panthers also re-signed cornerback Willie Drew, wide receiver Sam Pinckney, and rookie running back Jaden Shirden, who played an earlier role in the offseason program.  

The Panthers’ patchwork secondary, led by reserve cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and rookie Chau Smith-Wade, held the Jets’ backup quarterbacks to 85 yards passing.  

“That group is making a statement for themselves as we go forward,” Canales said Saturday.  

Dillon Johnson Ends Panthers’ TD Drought, Packs Locker  

Thanks, rook.  

Now, pack your bags.  

Proving to be one of the few standout offensive players Saturday, Johnson compiled a team-high 83 yards on 18 carries. During the Panthers’ final possession, his number was called each play, compiling 66 yards. Breaking a tackle from behind the line of scrimmage, he scored on a 2-yard run as time expired.  

“I ain’t going to lie to you. I don’t know how to feel,” Johnson said. “We ran it about (seven) times in a row, so I had to put my big boy pants on, for sure.  

“You always want, if you’re a big-time player, you always want the ball when the game’s on the line. And, you know, I did my job. I don’t think anybody expected it, but the run game started picking up, so he kept feeding me.”  

The second-effort carry created the Panthers’ first touchdown since the fourth quarter of a 2023 shootout loss to the Green Bay Packers, a span of 215 days.  

“Just the finish of it just felt good, running the ball the way we want to, that tough style, pushing the pile,” Canales said. “Dillon did a great job for us just finishing off the game right there.”  

An undrafted free agent out of Washington, Johnson signed with the Panthers on July 31 following a stint with the Tennessee Titans. He said he had a celebration planned for his first NFL TD, but was “too tired.” 

Main Photo: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Hawkins

Jeff Hawkins

Jeff Hawkins is a two-time APSE award-winning sports writer with four decades of print and digital media experience. A freelancer since 2006, Hawkins spent his early career as a reporter/editor for various newspapers in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois.

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