Bryce Perkins is getting another shot at playing in the NFL.
UVa football alums Bryce Perkins, Ryan Nelson enjoying stint with UFL's Michigan Panthers
The former Virginia quarterback has signed with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced on Monday morning. Perkins signed with Carolina after an impressive spring season with the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League.
Despite missing three games due to an injury, Perkins still earned UFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors after completing 109-of-158 passes for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 269 yards and five scores in seven regular-season games. Perkins went on to lead the Panthers to the UFL Championship Game.
This will be Perkins’ second shot at playing in the NFL. After a memorable 2019 season at UVa that saw him account for 4,307 total yards of offense and 33 touchdowns, Perkins signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. He spent three years with the Rams and started a game for Los Angeles in 2022 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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After his time with the Rams ended, Perkins said he decided to play in the UFL with the hopes of getting another shot at the NFL.
“I wanted to keep going for the love of the game, and God willing, to have another shot to get back into the NFL,” Perkins said earlier this year in a interview with The Daily Progress.
Memphis Showboats v Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins warms up prior to a game against the Memphis Showboats at Ford Field on April 18, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, UFL
Perkins feels he has continued to grow as a player since he made his first NFL start.
“I feel like my football IQ is a lot higher from leaving the [NFL],” Perkins said. “I made my first start in the NFL against the Chiefs and I think my mental IQ has grown [since then].”
Perkins’ addition gives the Panthers an extra quarterback for this week’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Carolina is not expected to play starting quarterback Bryce Young in Thursday night’s game.
Backup quarterback Andy Dalton left Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texas with an elbow issue. The other quarterback currently on Carolina’s roster is rookie Jack Plummer, who played at Louisville last season.
Both Plummer and Perkins are expected to see action on Thursday and get the chance to make their case for being on an NFL roster.
Perkins becomes this second former UVa standout to sign an NFL contract after a strong 2025 season in the UFL. Perkins’ former Virginia and Michigan Panthers teammate Ryan Nelson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers last month. Nelson was an All-UFL performer for Michigan during the 2025 season.
John Shifflett
jshifflett2@dailyprogress.com
@John_Shifflett on X
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