The Carolina Panthers are clearing space on the roster, and former fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala is the latest name to go.
Carolina had to open a spot after adding former Baltimore Ravens center Caleb Bullock off waivers on Monday, and Zavala was the move that made it happen. He was waived as the Panthers continued reshaping the roster in the wake of the 53-man deadline.
Zavala’s run in Carolina ends after three seasons. He played in 34 games and made 14 starts, but he never settled in as a dependable piece on the offensive line. His playing time slipped as the struggles piled up, and even after making the initial 53-man roster this year, the Panthers clearly had other plans when they moved to upgrade up front.
The departure of Zavala leaves Bryce Young as the only remaining draft pick from Carolina’s 2023 class. The Panthers gave up a lot to get Young, including picks in that draft, so the group was always small. But the overall results have been rough, and Young is heading into a crucial year in his career.
Carolina also made a couple more moves on Monday. The team reportedly agreed to sign inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson to the practice squad from Miami, according to ESPN’s Mike Kaye. Dodson entered the league as an undrafted free agent and has built a solid résumé, including 16 starts for Miami over the last two seasons.
The Panthers also made the signing of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke official. On top of that, they placed offensive lineman Brady Christensen on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
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The Panthers got to their 53-man roster by the NFL deadline on Aug. 30, but the most interesting part of the process was not just who left. Jaseem Reed, after a strong preseason, was among the notable cuts along with veteran David Moore and third-round pick Trevin Wallace, a reminder that even encouraging August performances do not always translate into a spot once the numbers get tight. Carolina is planning to carry six wide receivers into the regular season, which at least gives the group a defined shape heading into the opener.
Still, the final list left behind a bigger question about where the real decisions were made. The Panthers have a little more than two weeks before they open against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 13, and the roster trim suggests the wide receiver group and the battle around Wallace's position were both under a microscope right up to the finish. For a team trying to settle its depth chart before Week 1, those choices may matter as much as the players who survived them. [Read more 🡒]