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Panthers' Minor Roster Move Tells Us More than You Think
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- Panthers' Minor Roster Move Tells Us More than You Think
The Carolina Panthers have seemingly had one thing after another happen this offseason. In addition to seeing several players go down with injuries , the team got a surprise retirement announcement on Tuesday.
LaBryan Ray , who was a key veteran on the defensive line, was placed on the reserve/retired list. Ray was very likely to make the roster as he had the trust of Ejiro Evero, but he decided to hang up the cleats instead.
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In response, the Panthers indeed made a move on Wednesday, but it's not the move many probably expected.
Panthers Bring Jake Curhan Back on Wednesday
Instead of signing another defensive lineman, the Panthers opted to reunite with a familiar face on the offensive line. The team is bringing back Jake Curhan, who played in 13 games for the Panthers in 2025 with one start.
Curhan filled in at guard for the Panthers and held his own. The guard also appeared in one game for the Arizona Cardinals last season. Pro Football Focus gave the guard a respectable 62.3 grade in 158 snaps.
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What this tells me is that the team isn't crazy about the interior offensive line depth. Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt have the starting guard spots locked up, but the depth is slightly questionable.
Before the addition of Curhan, the Panthers had Saahdiq Charles , Ja'Tyre Carter, Chandler Zavala , and Brady Christensen competing for backup jobs. The team didn't bring Christensen back until last month, which was another sign they didn't love the depth.
Good News for Aaron Hall
Additionally, bringing in an offensive lineman instead of a Ray replacement should be good news for Aaron Hall. Hall is the undrafted free agent who has shown the most this summer, and he seems to be working his way onto the roster.
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Even before the Ray news, Hall had a decent shot. Now, the UDFA is approaching lock territory, both due to his performance this summer and the lack of experienced depth.
Derrick Brown , Bobby Brown III , Lee Hunter, and Cam Jackson are locks to make the team. That likely leaves Hall as the fifth lineman, with Elijah Garcia and Jared Harrison-Hunte behind him.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
