The Carolina Panthers have added veteran linebacker Krys Barnes to their roster, as officially announced by the team on Sunday. Barnes began his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, where he started in his first two seasons and recorded 80 tackles in each campaign. However, his playing time diminished in 2022 due to injuries, limiting him to just six games. After that season, he parted ways with the Packers and spent the past two years with the Arizona Cardinals.
While in Arizona, the 27-year-old contributed mainly on special teams, logging 513 snaps in that phase of the game. Given his recent usage, it’s likely he’ll fill a similar role in Carolina. A former UCLA standout, Barnes will now look to prove himself during training camp and the preseason in hopes of earning a spot on the final roster.
The Panthers’ linebacker unit has seen significant changes recently. The team decided not to re-sign longtime linebacker Shaq Thompson, ending his decade-long tenure with the franchise. In addition, Carolina recently released Josey Jewell as he recovers from a concussion. With both veterans gone, the team lacks experience at the position. While newcomer Christian Rozeboom is expected to step into a starting role, Barnes could be a valuable asset on special teams and potentially step in on defense, given his 30 career starts.
To make room for Barnes, the Panthers released linebacker Tuasivi Nomura. An undrafted free agent from Fresno State, Nomura had been with the team through the spring and part of training camp. If unclaimed by another team, he will become a free agent.
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