Panthers elevate former second-round pick from practice squad for Week 4 vs. Cardinals
The Carolina Panthers added some insurance to their secondary on Saturday, elevating safety Marquise Blair from the practice squad ahead of Sunday’s Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Blair, a 2019 second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks, joined the Panthers’ practice squad following final cuts in September. Panthers GM Scott Fitterer was the Seahawks’ co-director of player personnel when Blair was selected by Seattle.
The standard elevation of Blair will give the Panthers depth behind starters Jeremy Chinn and Xaiver Woods. Blair will join Myles Hartsfield, Sam Franklin Jr. and Sean Chandler as insurance for the two starters. Woods (hamstring) was limited in practice this week, but was absent from the Panthers’ Friday injury report.
Blair appeared in 22 games (three starts) over three seasons with the Seahawks, producing 49 tackles, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles. The 25-year-old safety, listed as 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, will be eligible for two more standard elevations from the practice squad before he is subject to the wavier wire.
Entering Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals, the Panthers have four players listed as questionable: running back Christian McCaffrey (quad), wideout Laviska Shenault (hamstring), cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver and defensive end Marquis Haynes (knee). Kickoff against the Cardinals is set for 4:05 p.m.
Keep Pounding Game
The Panthers will host their “Keep Pounding” Game against the Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. The organization is using the event to honor the coaching and playing careers of Sam Mills, who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. Mills, who passed away in 2005, will be honored at halftime of the Panthers-Cardinals game.
Dan Morgan, who was coached by Mills and currently serves as the team’s assistant GM, will deliver a speech, along with Melanie Mills, the wife of Sam Mills, and Jim Porter, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s president.
Along with those speeches, the Panthers expect more than 80 former players to be in attendance for their annual alumni game.
Mills’ former teammates who are expected to be in attendance include Carlton Bailey, Tommy Barnhardt, Luther Broughton, Elbert Ellis, Howard Griffith, Brandon Hayes, Shawn King, Lamar Lathon, Emerson Martin, Tim McKyer, Pete Metzelaars, Ernie Mills, Walter Rasby, Mark Rodenhauser, Don Sasa, Rod Smith, Dwight Stone, Kinnon Tatum, Ken Walter, Gerald Williams and Jamie Wilson.
Former linebackers coached by Mills who are expected to be in attendance are Vinny Ciruciu, Greg Favors, Donta’ Jones, Dan Morgan, Hannibal Navies, Sean Tufts and Will Witherspoon.
This story was originally published October 1, 2022 at 12:13 PM.
