The Carolina Panthers have had an unusual season with linebacker Chandler Wooten, releasing and re-signing him three times.
Most recently, the team signed Wooten off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad to bring him back to their active roster. The Panthers made the announcement on Tuesday, just a week after Wooten had joined the 49ers.
Carolina’s decision to reacquire Wooten followed Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, where the team struggled with a limited number of healthy inside linebackers. Among the three available, Jon Rhattigan was primarily a special-teams player with only one defensive snap in 2024, while undrafted rookie Jacoby Windmon had just two snaps of regular-season experience. That left Josey Jewell as the only experienced linebacker for Carolina’s 36-30 overtime victory.
Wooten has been on a whirlwind journey with the Panthers this season. Initially waived during the preseason roster cuts, he rejoined the team’s practice squad the following day. He was elevated to the active roster on October 2 and appeared in three games, contributing 59 defensive snaps and 48 special-teams plays. However, Carolina waived him again on October 22. After a brief return to the practice squad, Wooten was released on November 7.
Despite the frequent moves, the Panthers have consistently found value in Wooten’s versatility. His NFL journey began in 2022 as an undrafted rookie with the Arizona Cardinals. Later that year, the Panthers signed him off Arizona’s practice squad, and he played nine games for Carolina, exclusively on special teams. In 2023, Wooten started on the Panthers’ practice squad but appeared in eight games, logging 47 defensive snaps and 177 special-teams plays.
Now back with Carolina, Wooten aims to contribute in their upcoming NFC South matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scheduled for noon CST on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
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