Panthers Quickly Add Young Safety Ahead of First Preseason Game

The Carolina Panthers will officially open their 2024 preseason slate on Thursday night against the New England Patriots. 

It will be the first time fans get the chance to see first-year head coach Dave Canales and the rest of the Panthers squad. However, before the Panthers travel to Foxborough, MA, they made an intriguing roster move on Tuesday.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Panthers claimed former Denver Broncos safety Caden Sterns off waivers.

Panthers News: Carolina Reunited Ejiro Evero With DB Caden Sterns

Sterns was shockingly waived on Monday after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Denver. To make room for the 24-year-old defensive back on Carolina’s roster, the team waived guard J.D. DiRenzo with an injury designation.

It’s a potential low-risk, high-reward move by Carolina as Sterns will be reunited with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Evero was in Denver as their defensive coordinator with Sterns.

The 6-foot-1 safety has done much in his short NFL career, playing in 21 games with five starts in the Mile High City. Sterns only played in one game last season due to a torn patellar tendon. 

The former University of Texas defensive back had 49 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, four interceptions, and two sacks in his three years with the Broncos. 

Sterns is joining a Panthers’ defense featuring Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller as the starting free and strong safeties. However, the depth behind Woods and Fuller isn’t the best and could give Sterns a good chance to see some playing time this season.

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