CHARLOTTE, N.C. - TeRah Edwards didn’t have much time to process the call that changed his week. With the NFL cutdown deadline closing in last Sunday, the new Carolina Panthers defensive tackle was just waiting around, trying to figure out what came next.
Then Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz rang.
"I'm like, 'Oh, boy, this might not be too good of a call,' " Edwards said.
The conversation quickly turned into a trade that sent Edwards to Carolina for a 2028 sixth-round pick, and the 6-foot-2, 305-pound lineman realized exactly what had happened.
"Mr. Hortiz told me, you're going to be excited, but it's also a weird situation for you.
"Right then, in that moment, I knew, 'they traded me.' "
For Panthers general manager Dan Morgan, the move was about adding another body with juice up front. Edwards had flashed during the preseason, piling up five quarterback pressures in three exhibition games, according to Next Gen Stats. Morgan said the price was worth it.
"I felt like we needed some depth there," Morgan said during Tuesday's press conference. "He's got his motor.
He's strong (and) he's physical. He plays the style that we're looking for here.
Giving away a pick for somebody like that, you know, it was really an easy decision."
The timing also lined up with some uneasiness around the Panthers’ defensive front. On Tuesday, Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown III both left practice with apparent injuries before returning to finish the session at the fields behind Bank of America Stadium.
Coach Dave Canales confirmed both starters made it back, but the situation only underscored why Carolina wanted extra insurance. Morgan kept six defensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster, and the trade fit that approach.
Edwards’ path to this point has been a patient one. As a rookie, he spent 2025 on the Chargers’ practice squad and earned a futures deal last January. He viewed that year as a necessary step, not a setback.
"For me, 1,000 percent spending last season on the practice squad was good for me," Edwards said. "It primed me for this upcoming season, but it told me I had to bring my best foot forward."
He also gave the Chargers some preseason moments worth noting. In four preseason outings in '25, Edwards had three pressures, and one of his highlights came on an interception return of 27 yards before Stetson Bennett forced him out of bounds.
In the Chargers’ preseason opener in August, the former Illinois standout posted four tackles, including a fourth-down stop, and three pressures. Carolina’s scouting staff took notice.
Now Edwards joins a Panthers defensive line that already has Derrick Brown and Bobby Brown as its anchors, with young pieces around them in 2025 fifth-rounder Cam Jackson, 2026 second-rounder Lee Hunter, and undrafted free agent Aaron Hall. Seven-year veteran Tershawn Wharton is set to start the season on the PUP list, which only adds to the need for depth.
After the initial surprise of making the 53-man roster, Edwards got on the field with Carolina for the first time Tuesday. Former Arizona Cardinals DT Anthony Goodlow, who was added to the practice squad, was out there too.
"First impression, it looks like a good group of guys," Edwards said, though he admitted the humidity was a different story. "From LA to here, I can't lie. That heat punched me in the face, but I'm excited to get to work with them and being in the show."
In Other News...
Chargers Practice Squad Shuffle Brings In Some Very Familiar Names
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It also meant a few familiar faces moved out of the picture, with cornerback Isas Waxter, wide receiver Devonte Ross and defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter all released from the practice squad. For a Chargers team trying to keep as much quality depth around its quarterback as possible, the family connection attached to Herberts latest addition is the kind of detail that will keep getting attention as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Add Another Mike McDaniel Connection Fans Should Keep An Eye On
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Wease also brings a small but notable connection to Mike McDaniels orbit, having spent time with the Miami Dolphins under the offensive coordinator before landing in Los Angeles. He got into one game last season and found the end zone, a reminder that even a practice squad addition can carry a little upside if the right opening comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Week 1 Problem At Linebacker
Denzel Perrymans season-opening trip to injured reserve leaves the Chargers with an early-season hole to sort out at linebacker, and it comes at a time when Jim Harbaugh is still trying to settle roles across the roster. Perryman will miss at least four games, and Harbaugh said the return timeline will hinge on how his rehab goes, which only adds another layer of uncertainty to a position group that now needs a starter by default.
Los Angeles does have options on the depth chart, with Troy Dye, DelShawn Phillips and Marlowe Wax all in the mix for snaps, but the team has not publicly settled on who will take over the job. For a defense that wants stability right away, the bigger issue may be how quickly someone can step in and look the part while Perryman works his way back. [Read more 🡒]