Wes

Horton

Horton turned 30 in December and was headed to free agency. “The little injuries I’ve accumulated over the years have finally caught up to me and when weighing the risk, I’d rather preserve what’s left of my body,” Horton said in a statement. Horton had a sack-less 2019 across six appearances. His career-high mark for quarterback takedowns was 5.5 in 2017. Horton entered the league as an UDFA out of USC in 2013.

A longtime role player for New Orleans’ NFC South rival, Horton will try to earn a 53-man roster role where he plays 300-400 snaps. Horton has tallied 15.5 sacks since entering the league as a 2013 UDFA.

The move clears the way for waiver pickup LaVar Edwards, who will slot in as the Panthers’ No. 5 end behind Charles Johnson, Kony Ealy, Mario Addison, and Ryan Delaire. Horton was a run-stuffing early-down rotational player.

Horton was out of football since getting waived at final cuts. He’s insurance with Charles Johnson (quad) questionable for Week 6.

Horton was waived by the Panthers at final cuts last year, but re-signed with the team in October and supplanted Kony Ealy as an early-down starter in Week 8. Horton managed 15 combined sacks, hits, and hurries on 331 snaps. Ideally, Horton will be part of a rotation and not counted on to start.

Horton started 15 games in place of the suspended Greg Hardy last season, but he had played just 58 snaps for Carolina this season. OT David Foucault was added off the practice squad in a corresponding move.

The Panthers will have a week to decide whether to activate him. Even if he is added back to the active roster, Horton will struggle to find snaps on the Panthers’ loaded defensive line.

Horton was eligible for activation off the Panthers’ reserve/suspended list after his four-game ban for PEDs. The Panthers deemed him not worth the trouble. A veteran in DC Sean McDermott’s system, Horton figures to remain on speed dial in case Carolina suffers any defensive line injuries.

Horton appeared in eight games (two starts) as a rotational edge defender. He missed four games to a PED suspension and was briefly released in December before re-signing to the practice squad. 26-year-old Horton will return as depth behind Charles Johnson and Kony Ealy.

OT David Foucault was waived in the corresponding roster move. Horton, who was waived by the Panthers three days ago, will provide depth at defensive end behind Jared Allen, Kony Ealy, Mario Addison, and Ryan Delaire.