Cat Scratch Reader
The Carolina Panthers front office is busy throughout the season with transactions, roster moves, and injury updates. Here’s what’s happening at Mint Street this week.
The biggest question mark on the injury report as of the time of publication is whether starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu will see the field. He has been limited every day in practice this week recovering from a recent appendectomy (listed as an “illness”) as the Panthers prepare to take on the Arizona Cardinals. He is currently considered questionable for Sunday’s game.
Signed DT Tommy Akingbesote to the practice squad
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound rookie is coming off a four-year college career at Maryland. In four seasons with the Terrapins he appeared in 44 games with 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks. He was drafted in the seventh round of this year’s draft by the Dallas Cowboys but was released in late August.
Interestingly, the draft pick the Cowboys used to select Akingbesote was one the Panthers sent to Dallas last year in the Jonathan Mingo trade, so Carolina essentially got that pick back with this signing.
Signed S Israel Mukuamu to the practice squad
This is a low-risk, high-upside signing for the Panthers. In college Mukuamu played three seasons at South Carolina before being selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He spent four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in 50 games with three starts. On his career he has 42 tackles, three interceptions, and four passes defended. Stashing a relatively young (he’s still only 25) but experienced guy like this on the practice squad could pay dividends down the road.
