CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Panthers reportedly released a North Carolina native on Tuesday after he played a key role on their defense over the past two seasons.
Defensive tackle Shy Tuttle was cut as Carolina worked to reach the 53-man roster limit by the deadline at 4 p.m. on Aug. 26.
Tuttle, who signed with the Panthers in 2023, is from Winston-Salem and played at North Davidson High School before he went on to play collegiately at the University of Tennessee.
The now 29-year-old defensive lineman started 32 games for Carolina across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He recorded 89 tackles in those games but only half a sack and one tackle for loss. Tuttle spent the previous four years with the New Orleans Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
He was part of the dreadful 2024 Panthers defense that surrendered more points than any other team in NFL history.
Winston-Salem native Shy Tuttle was reportedly released by his hometown Panthers on Aug. 26.
Winston-Salem native Shy Tuttle was reportedly released by his hometown Panthers on Aug. 26.(Lynne Sladky | AP)
A big part of why that 2024 defense was so bad was because of its inability to stop the run. To address that issue, the Panthers made it a point of emphasis to rebuild its defensive front ahead of the 2025 season.
Carolina signed defensive linemen Tershawn “Turk” Wharton and Bobby Brown III in free agency, and drafted Cam Jackson during the offseason. Those moves -- coupled with Tuttle’s $5.7 million cap hit -- made him the odd man out.
Because Tuttle has more than four years of service time in the NFL, he is not subject to waivers and is free to sign with any team.
Other notable cuts made by the Panthers prior to Tuesday’s deadline include quarterback Jack Plummer, kicker Matthew Wright and former Gardner-Webb receiver TJ Luther.
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