Panthers promote former Titans first-round pick to active roster

The Carolina Panthers are not having a great 2024 season, but they are starting to show signs of growth as of late. Carolina is 3-7 heading into Week 12 after their bye week, which is already a better record than in 2023. The Panthers are adding some reinforcements on defense by adding a former first-round pick.

The Panthers are signing Caleb Farley to their active roster, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey via Adam Schefter of ESPN. Farley is a former first-round pick of the Titans who battled through injuries and more to return to the NFL. He was previously on the team’s practice squad.

Farley has dealt with multiple injuries during his young NFL career, including a season-ending ACL injury in his rookie season. Now he has the chance to revive his career with his hometown team.

Panthers GM Dan Morgan is a big supporter of Farley.

“You could see why he was drafted in the first round, the athleticism he showed, the way he can turn his hips, change direction, the way he transitions, the way he can run,” Morgan said about Farley’s first workout. “He was really impressive.”

“He’s been very unlucky,” Morgan added of Farley. “I hope he’s happy.”

Cam Newton bashes Panthers QB Bryce Young for not playing out of the pocket

The Panthers may be slowly moving up, but there are still plenty of critics of QB Bryce Young.

Count former Panthers QB Cam Newton among them. Newton recently criticized Young’s apparent lack of comfort as a quality holding his game back.

“You gotta get in your pocket, don’t be a bad habit, that’s a bad habit, get in your pocket,” Newton said Friday via his 4th and 1st podcast. “In my defense, coaching development by saying what the standard is, move forward, it helps with accuracy; it helps so much, but Bryce says he doesn’t trust that bag.

‘He keeps driving backwards and that’s traumatic. So he won’t be in a position where it will collapse because he hasn’t built that trust yet. When you see the confidence, the Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, the Bradys, oh man, I feel so comfortable there.

Newton’s producer asked him if that’s a sign that Young is uncomfortable in the pocket.

“Sure, sure. Can he play? Yes, but this has to do with development,” Newton continued. “Is the development plan ready for him in Carolina? Is it well developed?”

Young’s NFL career could be short-lived if he can’t learn to play out of pocket.

Next up for the Panthers is a Week 12 matchup against the Chiefs.