The Panthers are activating right tackle Taylor Moton, defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton and running back Trevor Etienne, with Moton set to make his 2026 debut, per Pro Football Talk and Yahoo Sports. Wharton is also expected to play for the first time this season.
NFL Trade Rumors, citing Jeremy Fowler, supplied the detail the other two summaries did not. Wharton, who is listed as Tershawn on that report, will debut Sunday. He had been on the PUP list after neck surgery in May. Moton had been out with issues relating to blood clots in his lungs. NFL Trade Rumors also reported that Etienne's activation was part of the moves, and said further transactions came with them. The feed summary cuts off before saying what they were.
The returns land on a club that has been winning without them. Carolina is 2-2 and first in the NFC South, with a one-game winning streak. It beat Detroit 32-26 on Oct. 4, lost 21-18 at Cleveland on Sept. 27, and opened the run with a 34-3 win at Atlanta on Sept. 20.
Moton played 16 games in 2025, according to our data. Wharton appeared in nine games last season and recorded 36 total tackles, 11 of them solo, and 2 sacks. That makes him a notable addition to the defensive front. Etienne played 17 games in 2025. The only line our tables hold for him is a passing entry with no attempts, so it says nothing about his role as a runner.
The next test comes quickly. Carolina plays at Philadelphia on Sunday, Oct. 18, and Fowler's report says Wharton will make his debut in that game. Moton's 2026 debut is also described as set, but none of the reporting says how many snaps either player will get.
2-21st in NFC SouthStreak W1
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