Panthers make three new additions ahead of Week One versus Browns

The Carolina Panthers made several tweaks to the roster and practice squad on Monday ahead of their Week 1 showdown versus the Cleveland Browns. To add some depth and versatility to the defensive line, the Panthers signed former New England Patriots defensive end Henry Anderson.

In a corresponding move and to get under the 53-man limit, the Panthers waived defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon. The team had a surplus of DTs and a deficit of ends going into the first week of the season. However, they’ve fixed the issue with the signing of the 6-foot-6 former Stanford star. Nixon was a fifth-round draft pick for the Panthers in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Henry Anderson was a third-round pick for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2015 NFL Draft. He ended up playing three seasons for the Colts, three seasons for the Jets and one with the Patriots. Last season, he played just four games, totaling three tackles.

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Carolina also added two players to the practice squad Monday morning, signing safety Marquise Blair and wide receiver Preston Williams. They released wide receiver Ra’Shaun Henry and safety Kenny Robinson from the practice squad as well.

As a rookie in Miami, Preston Williams led the team in receptions before tearing his ACL. He caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three scores in seven games before going on the injured reserve list. He’s played eight games in each of his three seasons in the league since leaving Colorado State.

Blair, a 2019 second-round pick out of Utah, could play nickel for the Panthers if he moves to the active roster. He wrapped up the last two seasons on injured reserve due to knee injuries.

Panthers prep for showdown versus Baker Mayfield’s former team

As expected, Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield is fired up to play his former team, the Cleveland Browns, in Week 1 action. The former Oklahoma Sooners star is so fired up, in fact, that he shared some choice words with a reporter following the Panthers’ preseason win versus the Buffalo Bills.

Bills sideline reporter Cynthia Frelund revealed on the Around the NFL podcast that Mayfield said he’s going to ‘f**k them up’ in Week 1 when the Browns visit Carolina.

“It was on the field after the game against the Bills, preseason game 3. I walked up and I was like, ‘I’m so excited to see you, kick some butt,’ I didn’t say that word but… ‘kick some butt, especially Week One, I cannot wait.’ And he uses some expletives and he says, ‘I hope you’re ready, I’m gonna ‘bleep’ them up,’” Frelund said.

“I don’t say curse words on air,” Frelund said before confirming his use of the particular expletive.

Following the latest escalation in the tension between the two parties, a lot of eyes will be on Carolina-Cleveland on Sunday. The kickoff for Game 1 is at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.