The battered Carolina Panthers defense is getting some backup.
On Tuesday, the team officially announced a pair of signings. One of the moves will see linebacker Chandler Wooten go from the practice squad to the active roster in light of the injuries to starters Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell.
Thompson’s season ended after he tore his Achilles tendon in the Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals while Jewell is expected to miss some time due to hamstring and groin issues.
Carolina’s defense has already been without Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who saw his 2024 cut short after tearing his meniscus in the season-opening defeat to the New Orleans Saints. Fellow defensive lineman Shy Tuttle and safety Jordan Fuller, two other Week 1 starters, have been sidelined recently as well.
Wooten played in 17 games for the Panthers between the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Along with Wooten, the Panthers also signed cornerback Caleb Farley—who joins the team’s practice squad. Farley, a former Tennessee Titan, was selected with the 22nd overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft.
