Carolina Panthers lose practice-squad quarterback to NFC South division rival in Week 4
Quarterback Jake Luton’s return to Carolina lasted less than a week.
The New Orleans Saints signed Luton to their 53-man roster on Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Observer. The quarterback previously signed with the Panthers’ practice squad last Wednesday, and he was elevated to the game-day roster for the 37-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Luton served as Andy Dalton’s immediate backup against the Seahawks with rookie Bryce Young sidelined with an ankle injury.
The Panthers signed Luton to be Dalton’s backup because he was with the team during the summer in training camp and in the preseason. Luton wasn’t signed to a roster in the three weeks between final cuts and the Panthers bringing him back on the practice squad.
With Luton gone, the Panthers no longer have a third-string quarterback. With Young recovering from injury, the Panthers could weigh bringing in another arm for depth. According to ProFootballTalk, the team worked out former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Bryce Perkins on Tuesday. Former Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns quarterback Kellen Mond was also part of that workout, according to ESPN.
The Saints signed Luton to be insurance at their quarterback position. Starter Derek Carr is dealing with an AC joint injury that head coach Dennis Allen explained will have a week-to-week recovery timeline. The Saints would start former starter Jameis Winston at quarterback if Carr were unable to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Luton would effectively be Winston’s backup at the position.
With an open spot on the practice squad, the Panthers signed wideout Matt Landers to take Luton’s place. Landers, a rookie, played college football at Georgia, Toledo and Arkansas, and he went undrafted in April.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February. He has a rare size-speed dynamic at the position.
Landers spent the offseason with the Seahawks but failed to the make their 53-man roster.
