Eku Leota - Pro Football Rumors

Panthers Reduce Roster To 53

August 29th, 2023 at 9:07pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers cut down their roster to 53 players today, but in the process, they ruled out a key offensive lineman for at least a month:

Released:

OL Michael Jordan
OL Justin McCray
S Eric Rowe
WR Javon Wims

Waived:

OL Deonte Brown
RB Spencer Brown
OL JD Direnzo
LB Ace Eley
LB Kobe Jones
LB Eku Leota
CB Mac McCain
CB Herb Miller
CB Mark Milton
WR Shi Smith
CB Keith Taylor
OL Sam Tecklenburg
LB Jordan Thomas
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
WR Josh Vann
DL Raequan Williams

Placed on PUP:

G Austin Corbett

Placed on IR:

DE Henry Anderson

Austin Corbett continues to rehab from a torn ACL and has been sitting on PUP throughout the preseason. The transaction means the starting guard can’t be activated to the active roster until Week 5, but he may need longer to get into form. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe tweets that the team is hoping to have him back midway through the season. Rookie Chandler Zavala will likely slide into the starting lineup while Corbett is sidelined.

Eric Rowe has 100 games of experience in stints with the Eagles, Patriots, and Dolphins. He’s spent the past four seasons in Miami, starting 39 of his 63 appearances. This included a 2022 campaign where he got into 14 games (six starts), finishing with 56 tackles and a pair of sacks. The two-time Super Bowl champ joined the Panthers back in April.

Panthers Announce 13 UDFA Signings

May 6th, 2023 at 11:17am CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers won’t officially sign their undrafted rookies until next week’s minicamp, but the organization still went ahead and announced their 13-man UDFA class:

DE Jalen Redmond (Oklahoma)
OLB Travez Moore (Arizona State)
OLB Eku Leota (Auburn)
ILB Austin Ajiake (UNLV)
ILB Bumper Pool (Arkansas)
CB Colby Richardson (LSU)
CB Mark Milton (Baylor)
CB Rejzohn Wright (Oregon State)
S Nico Bolden (Kent State)
RB Cam Peoples (Appalachian State)
WR Josh Vann (South Carolina)
OT Ricky Lee (North Carolina A&T)
OG Nash Jensen (North Dakota State)

The Panthers were busy adding linebackers, signing four players at the position. Bumper Pool is the most notable of the bunch, with the linebacker having a productive collegiate career at Arkansas (441 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks). Pool likely would have heard his name called during the draft if not for a hip injury that derailed his final season. Meanwhile, Eku Leota could carve out a role on the edge for Chicago, with the Auburn product compiling 15.5 sacks during his college career.

Cam Peoples was a surprise UDFA after he collected 2,830 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns during his time at Appalachian State. At 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds, the rookie profiles as more of a power back, a role that he could easily fill with Carolina. Josh Vann is now the third South Carolina wideout on the Panthers’ roster, joining Damiere Byrd and Shi Smith.