Panthers put center on COVID-19/reserve list

The Carolina Panthers placed new starting center Sam Tecklenburg on the COVID-19/reserve list on Tuesday. He was the only new addition to the list after the Panthers also returned safety Sam Franklin Jr. and defensive end Azur Kamara.

Tecklenburg, a rookie out of Baylor University, is in his first year in the NFL with the Panthers.

Despite Tecklenburg only starting his first game last week, the COVID-19 diagnosis leaves a tough situation for the offensive line as a whole. First, the Panthers lost Matt Paradis for the year to a knee injury. Then, Pat Elflein went on the COVID-19 list last week.

The moves has Carolina playing with 12 players on reserve/COVID-19, 45 players on the 53-man active roster, and two open spots on the practice squad.

The Panthers have lost five consecutive games and 10 of their last 12 contests. They have been eliminated from the playoffs, so their only two remaining games are against the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 2 and the Buccaneers on Jan. 9.

Panthers release quarterback Matt Barkley

Just a day after activating him from the COVID-19 list, Carolina Panthers released quarterback Matt Barkley on Wednesday, per Darin Gantt.

Barkley was placed on the list Dec. 17. The 31-year-old former USC signal caller has yet to see the field since coming to Charlotte in November. In his NFL career, Barkley has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Buffalo Bills. He was also on the practice squad for the 49ers and Titans.

Barkley has started seven games — six of which were for the Bears. He has seen action in 19 total contests in his professional career. He’s thrown for 2,699 yards, 11 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

The 6-foot-2, 234-pound California native was a fourth-round pick in 2013, and he was the No. 1 overall recruit out of high school in 2009.

Quarterback Cam Newton started Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before Sam Darnold came in in relief after two series. It was his first action since coming back from a shoulder injury.

On3’s Ashton Pollard contributed to this report.