The Panthers waived Aumavae on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Aumavae spent the 2025 season on injured reserve with an Achilles tear and will now be waived after initially signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024. The defensive tackle has spent his NFL career thus far bouncing around the Panthers' reserve lists. The 27-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent able to join any team if he clears waivers.
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Panthers' Isaiah Simmons: Staying with Carolina
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The Panthers signed Simmons to a contract Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Simmons signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in late December, and the team seems to want to keep the former Clemson linebacker around. It is likely another one-year deal for Simmons, who was primarily a special-teams player down the stretch of the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old played just one defensive snap last season, something that may change with a full offseason to immerse himself in the Panthers' defensive scheme.
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Panthers' A'Shawn Robinson: Released by Carolina
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The Panthers released Robinson on Tuesday.
Robinson had one year remaining on his contract, but his diminished production in 2025 is likely the reason he will be released early. The 30-year-old defensive tackle will now be able to seek a new contract once free agency starts Wednesday. Robinson is a durable, time-tested veteran who could strengthen the depth of many teams' interior defensive units.
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Panthers' LaBryan Ray: Inks new deal with Carolina
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Ray re-signed with the Panthers on Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
The 28-year-old from Alabama has operated in a depth role on the Panthers' defensive line over the last two seasons, tallying 54 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, across 29 regular-season appearances. He's expected to continue playing behind Derrick Brown, Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) and Bobby Brown during the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Thomas Incoom: Returning to Carolina
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Incoom re-signed with the Panthers on Tuesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Although Incoom played just 25 defensive snaps across the Panthers' 17 regular-season games in 2025, he led the team with 16 total tackles on special teams. Following his new deal, the Central Michigan product is expected to remain one of Carolina's most impactful special-team assets during the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Staying in Carolina
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Evans is set to sign a one-year deal with the Panthers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 26-year-old corner appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Panthers last season, recording 12 total tackles while playing a key role on special teams (153 snaps). After re-signing with Carolina on Monday, Evans is expected to maintain a similar role ahead of the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Robert Rochell: Re-ups with Panthers
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Rochell re-signed with Carolina on a one-year contract Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rochell hasn't totaled more than 10 tackles in a season since his rookie year with the Rams in 2021, but he's solidified himself as a solid contributor on special teams. He contributed in such a role across four regular-season appearances with Carolina in 2025, in addition to two games with the Cowboys.
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Panthers' Patrick Jones: Fully cleared from back injury
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Panthers GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday that Jones (back) has been fully cleared after undergoing surgery during the season, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Signed to a two-year, $15 million deal last offseason following a breakout 2024 campaign with the Vikings, Jones appeared in just four regular-season games during his first season with Carolina. The outside linebacker will look to return to form in 2026 after he racked up a career-high 7.0 sacks across 15 regular-season games with Minnesota two seasons ago.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Tallies 32 stops in 2025
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Cherelus posted 32 tackles (14 solo) and a pass defended across 14 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Cherelus racked up a career-high 32 tackles despite missing three games due to injuries. The 26-year-old was most productive toward the end of the season after taking over as one of the Panthers' starting inside linebackers in December following Trevin Wallace's placement on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Cherelus is now set to become a free agent this offseason.
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Panthers' Tershawn Wharton: Logs career-high
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Wharton (hamstring) totaled 36 tackles (11 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and a pass defended across nine regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Wharton had one of his most productive seasons in 2025, as he tallied a career-high 36 points despite missing eight games, including the final four contests of the regular season due to a hamstring injury. While the 27-year-old managed to suit up for the wild-card loss to the Rams, he aggravated the injury during the game and will likely begin the offseason focused on getting healthy.
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Panthers' Lathan Ransom: Productive during rookie campaign
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Ransom posted 51 tackles (21 solo), including 1.0 sacks, an interception, two passes defended and a forced fumble across 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Ransom was productive during his rookie campaign, racking up over 50 total tackles while seeing playing time on both defense and special teams. With Tre'von Moehrig under contract with the Panthers for two more years, Ransom will likely continue to serve as a backup safety during the 2026 campaign.
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Panthers' Chau Smith-Wade: Logs 56 tackles in 2025
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Smith-Wade tallied 56 tackles (43 solo), an interception and two passes defender across 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
Smith-Wade saw increased playing time on defense during his second season, and he ended up recording a career-high 56 tackles while serving as the Panthers' starting slot cornerback. The 23-year-old also managed to score his first NFL touchdown, as he ran back a Michael Penix interception for six points during their Week 3 win over the Falcons.
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Panthers' Patrick Jones: Recovering from surgery
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Jones (back) is recovering well from his herniated disk surgery and could have returned to the field this season if the Panthers had made a deeper playoff run, Mike Kaye reports.
Jones has been on injured reserve since the Panthers' Week 6 win over the Cowboys. The linebacker said he felt, "like I was getting real close" to an end-of-season return. Now that the Panthers have been eliminated from Super Bowl contention, Jones will have a full offseason to work back from his back injury and be ready for the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Derrick Brown: Returns to form in 2025
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Brown recorded five total tackles (four solo) during Saturday's 34-31 wild-card loss to the Rams.
After missing 16 games last season due to a knee injury, Brown returned as one of the NFL's top interior defensive linemen in 2025. He played all 17 regular-season games and recorded 73 total tackles, the second most among interior defensive linemen, while facing double teams on 64.4 percent of his snaps. Additionally, the Auburn product tallied seven passes defensed, 5.0 sacks and one forced fumble while logging 808 defensive snaps during the regular season. Under contract through the 2028 season, Brown is expected to remain one of the NFL's top defenders in 2026.
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Panthers' Mike Jackson: Takes another step in 2025
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Jackson tallied 68 total tackles (54 solo), 19 passes defensed, including four interceptions, and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Jackson was incredible during the Panthers' wild-card loss to the Rams on Saturday, recording four passes defensed, including an interception that helped set up a Carolina touchdown in the third quarter. The Miami product has been one of the NFL's top corners since joining the Panthers in 2024, recording 144 total tackles and 36 passes defensed (most in the NFL), including six interceptions, over 34 regular-season games. Having signed a two-year, $10.5 million extension with Carolina last offseason, Jackson is expected to start opposite Jaycee Horn to form one of the league's premier outside cornerback duos during the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Another stellar season
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Horn (head) recorded 37 total tackles (26 solo) and eight passes defensed, including five interceptions, across 16 regular-season games in 2025.
Horn was off to an impressive start in his playoff debut before exiting Saturday's wild-card loss to the Rams with a head injury, finishing with two total tackles and one pass defensed. The 2021 first-round pick from South Carolina proved to be one of the NFL's premier outside cornerbacks in 2025, allowing just a 72.3 passer rating when targeted while tying for the second-most interceptions in the league. Having signed a four-year, $100 million extension last offseason, Horn is expected to remain one of the Panthers' top outside cornerbacks heading into the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Tershawn Wharton: Aggravates hamstring
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Wharton was ruled out of Saturday's wild-card game against the Rams due to a hamstring injury, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
Wharton missed Week 18 with a hamstring injury but was removed from the injury report Tuesday. He seemingly aggravated the issue Saturday and was forced to exit after logging two tackles.
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Panthers' Jaycee Horn: Being evaluated for concussion
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Horn is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Saturday's game against the Rams, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
Horn had played most of the game but missed a pivotal possession late in the fourth quarter, during which the Rams took the lead. He recorded four tackles (two solo) and one pass defensed prior to his exit.
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Panthers' Robert Rochell: Ready to face Rams
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Rochell (concussion) does not carry an injury designation for Saturday's wild-card matchup against Los Angeles.
Rochell has fully cleared the concussion protocol and is on track to handle his usual role on special teams during Saturday's playoff opener. Across six regular-season appearances, Rochell did not handle a single defensive snap.
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Panthers' Robert Rochell: Upgrades to full practice Wednesday
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Rochell (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Rochell was unable to play in the Panthers' Week 18 loss to the Buccaneers after entering the league's concussion protocol against the Seahawks in Week 17. He appears to be progressing in his recovery given his ability to practice in full Wednesday, but he would need to clear concussion protocol in order to be available for Saturday's NFC wild-card game against the Rams. Rochell played exclusively on special teams across six regular-season games between the Panthers and Cowboys and finished with five tackles (two solo).
