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).
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Panthers' Bobby Brown: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Brown (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice
Brown entered the league's concussion protocol during the Panthers' Week 18 loss to the Buccaneers. His ability to practice in full is a good sign that he is progressing in his recovery, but Brown would not be allowed to play in Saturday's wild-card game against the Rams unless an independent neurologist were to clear him from the league's protocol. Thursday's injury report should provide clarity on Brown's chances of playing in the opening round of the NFC playoffs.
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Panthers' Robert Rochell: Listed as limited Tuesday
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Rochell (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Rochell wasn't able to practice in any capacity prior to being ruled out for Week 18, so his limited listing represents a step in the right direction. In order to be eligible for Saturday's wild-card round against the Rams, however, Rochell will need to fully clear the NFL's concussion protocol.
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Panthers' Bobby Brown: Limited in practice
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Brown (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Brown continues to work his way through the five-step concussion protocol. He'll need to resume practicing without restrictions and gain full medical clearance, including from an independent neurologist, in order to be eligible to suit up for Sunday's wild-card round matchup against the Rams.
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Panthers' Tershawn Wharton: Ready to face Rams
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Wharton (hamstring) was a full participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Wharton missed Carolina's final four regular-season games, but he was initially listed as questionable to play Week 18. Now, the veteran defensive tackle looks fully on track for Saturday's wild-card round game against Los Angeles.
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Panthers' Claudin Cherelus: Ready for wild-card round
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Cherelus (calf/ankle) was a full participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Cherelus was unable to play Week 18, but he appears fully on track for Saturday's wild-card round matchup against the Rams. Across 14 regular-season appearances in 2025, Cherelus tallied a career-high 32 tackles (14 solo) and one pass defensed.
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Panthers' Nic Scourton: Productive rookie campaign
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Scourton recorded 47 total tackles (20 solo), including 5.0 sacks, one pass defensed and one forced fumble across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
Scourton, a 2025 second-round pick from Texas A&M, emerged as Carolina's most productive pass rusher during his rookie campaign. He led the team in pressures (34), tied for the team lead in sacks (5.0) and ranked second on the defense in tackles for loss (seven). Among rookie edge rushers, Scourton led the group with 47 total tackles while finishing with the third-most sacks as well. He was a major reason for the Panthers' defensive improvements this season and is expected to remain the team's top edge rusher following the 2025 playoff run.
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Panthers' A'Shawn Robinson: Production dips in 2025
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Robinson tallied 65 total tackles (21 solo), including 2.5 sacks, and three passes defensed across 17 regular-season games in 2025.
In the second season of a three-year, $22.5 million contract, the 30-year-old from Alabama remained one of Carolina's top interior defensive linemen, starting 16 of the 17 regular-season games in which he appeared. However, Robinson saw declines in several statistical categories compared to 2024, finishing with fewer total tackles (80 to 65), sacks (5.5 to 3.5) and forced fumbles (one to zero). Those dips are partially attributable to the return of Derrick Brown, and the additions of Bobby Brown (concussion) and Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) in free agency, as Robinson played 58 fewer snaps this season. He's expected to remain a crucial part of the Panthers' defensive line following the team's 2025 playoff run.
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Panthers' Tre'von Moehrig: Impactful first year in Carolina
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Moehrig recorded 103 total tackles (65 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and two passes defensed, including one interception, over 16 regular-season games in 2025.
Moehrig signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Panthers in March and lived up to his contract in his first season with the team. The TCU product started all 16 regular-season games in which he appeared in and tallied a career-high 14 tackles for loss, the most TFLs by a defensive back in a single season in NFL history. His versatility played a key role in the Panthers' defensive success, as he logged 442 snaps in the box, 310 in the slot, 143 at free safety and 94 on the defensive line. Moehrig remains under contract through 2027 and is expected to remain one of Carolina's top defensive playmakers for years to come.
