As NFL teams approach the league-mandated deadline to trim rosters, Carolina Panthers players and coaches are reflecting on the uncertainty and stress that come with this annual process. By Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST, all 32 teams must reduce their rosters from about 90 players to the regular-season limit of 53, resulting in more than a thousand players across the league being released.
“I think you get to a certain point in your career where you just understand that it is what it is,” explained linebacker Jon Rhattigan.
Some players who are cut may be placed on lists such as Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), Non-Football Injury/Illness (NFI), or Injured Reserve, which do not count against the active roster limit. Teams will also have the opportunity to form practice squads beginning Wednesday afternoon, which can include up to 16 players—or 17 if an International Pathway Program player is included.
Tight end James Mitchell described how this period can weigh on those involved: “It can—this time can be stressful for a lot of guys,” he said, “and myself is not excluded from that.”
Head coach Dave Canales emphasized that while final decisions are looming, his staff remains focused on evaluating performance until the last moment. “I think first and foremost we have this day where we get to evaluate the film so we’re all back in the building,” Canales explained Friday. “And we’ll have to make those decisions at the beginning of next week, but today is a chance to get better, to look at the film, to take coaching to improve, you know, all these things are so critical for all the players who were able to play (Friday) night so we’ll start there.”
Mitchell recounted his own experience navigating roster cuts during his time with Detroit and now with Carolina: “Just try to connect with family and friends, you know, that’s how I kind of just take my mind off of it,” said Mitchell. “So for me it’s just, you know, surrounding myself with the people who have supported me along this journey and then we’ll see what happens from there.”
Rhattigan has also experienced being waived and re-signed multiple times throughout his career. He tries not to let uncertainty affect him: “I just control the controlables and every decision that’s made, you know, whether it’s myself personally or good friends or just great teammates that I’m around, we all understand that this is a business and it’s, you know, these are decisions made that are out of our control, so I don’t do anything different,” Rhattigan said.
“You hope you can be with the guys that you’ve gone through this whole offseason with, but at the same time, you always have to be ready for any move to be made… I think the older you get, the more calm you can stay knowing that you’ve seen a lot of things happen. And at the end of the day, it’s out of your control.”
Rookies like running back Trevor Etienne listen closely as veterans share advice about handling roster moves. “It’s like you really can’t control that, so just worry about the things you can control and you know be ready when your name is called,” Etienne echoed. “One thing I learned is this league is about opportunities, so just make sure you’re ready for whatever opportunity comes your way.”
The Panthers recently signed quarterback Bryce Perkins after his stint as UFL MVP—a move head coach Canales says underscores perseverance in professional football. “It’s about proving something to themselves, you know, that they can do this,” Canales shared last week. “When the NFL says no, do you just go home, or do you find another place you can play football…”
Canales hopes each player facing uncertain news remembers why they started playing football in the first place: “It’s just the challenge to chase your dream; the challenge to never give up… And while we know we can’t have everybody do that here with us… our goal as a staff is to help these guys to have a football life in one way shape or form…”
