Panthers Player Surprisingly Changes Number Ahead of OTAs

The Carolina Panthers are among the teams that started OTAs on Monday as they prepare for a much improved 2024 season. 

OTAs present a great opportunity for players on the 90-man roster to showcase their skills and impress the coaching staff. Amare Barno is one of those players, who could benefit from a good showing in OTAs, but he’s still working his way from a torn ACL that he suffered last season.

Head coach Dave Canales told reporters Monday that Barno is “doing some work” but doesn’t have a timeline for his full return, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.

Even though Barno cannot participate in OTAs, Panthers media did notice something different about the 25-year-old defensive end.

Panthers News: Amare Barno Changes Jersey to #38

Joe Person of The Athletic pointed out on Monday that Barno has changed his jersey number from 90 to 38. The former sixth-round pick wore No. 90 for the first two years of his career.

The 6-foot-6 defensive end wore No. 38 at Virgina Tech, along with Nos. 11 and 25. As for the No. 90 Panthers jersey, Person also mentions that the number change was appropriate, given that Julius Peppers is going in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Peppers, who was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Panthers, spent the 10 seasons in Carolina across two stints. 

During his 10-year tenure with Carolina, Peppers posted 97 sacks and made the Pro Bowl five times. He also was named to the All-Pro team four times and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002.

With Barno switching his number to 38, one does wonder if the Panthers will eventually retire Peppers’ No. 90, given what he’s done in his career and with Carolina.

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