Panthers re-sign special teams standout ahead of free agency
The Panthers have retained one of their best special teams players from last season.
The team re-signed outside linebacker Thomas Incoom on Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Charlotte Observer.
Incoom was set to become a restricted free agent at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the start of the new league year. The terms of the new deal were not immediately disclosed.
Incoom, who turned 27 in February, led the Panthers with 16 special teams tackles last season. He has become a major part of the core group for special teams coordinator Tracy Smith over the past two years.
“He can explode off the snap in whatever phase he’s in, whether it’s backwards or forwards,” Smith said about Incoom in September. The coordinator added that he “leads the nation in want-to” when it comes to special teams.
The former Central Michigan standout also flashed outside linebacker potential during last year’s training camp and preseason. However, he only played 25 defensive snaps in 2025.
“He’s got traits like a (defensive back),” defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said last season. “He can really get off the ball. He can really run — he can run all day. He’s explosive, he’s strong. And the cool thing about him, just like a lot of our guys, is you’ve seen such growth and improvement from what he was last year at this time. So, we’re excited to see what he could do this season.”
The Panthers originally signed Incoom — who was born in Ghana — off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad during the 2024 season. Prior to 2025, Incoom had played just 12 career games, but last season he appeared in all 18 matchups, including the team’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Incoom is the fifth of the Panthers’ pending free agents to have agreed to a contract before the market opens.
Defensive backs Akayleb Evans and Robert Rochell agreed to terms on Monday, while long snapper JJ Jansen signed a one-year deal in February. Defensive end LaBryan Ray also agreed to a new deal on Tuesday.
Panthers prioritize outside linebacker in 2026 depth chart
The Panthers have made it a priority to cultivate an improved outside linebacker depth chart this offseason. On Monday, the team agreed to terms on a four-year, $120 million deal with former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips.
Phillips and last year’s second-round pick Nic Scourton are expected to lead the group in 2026. The room also features Incoom, veteran Pat Jones and last year’s third-round pick Princely Umanmielen.
“We have to be better just in terms of having that depth, because injuries inevitably are going to happen throughout the season,” Morgan told The Charlotte Observer in January. “So, we just gotta make sure we do a good job of stocking up on as many rushers as we can.”
D.J. Wonnum and Trevis Gipson, who were part of the rotation last season, are set to become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday. Both players’ agents, however, can negotiate with teams during the league’s annual negotiating window, which began on Monday.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 12:05 PM.
