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Chandler Zavala placed on injured reserve, among other moves

The Carolina Panthers hold practice on Nov. 13, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Carolina Panthers hold practice on Nov. 13, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

CHARLOTTE — The Panthers made another roster move to add secondary depth Saturday, and put another offensive lineman on injured reserve.

The team put guard Chandler Zavala on IR for the second time this season, this one because of a calf injury.

Zavala originally went on IR in Week 5 with a knee injury, but was activated and started three more games before leaving Monday's loss to the 49ers.

His second trip to IR this year is the fifth for a Panthers offensive lineman this year. Robert Hunt (torn biceps) and Austin Corbett (MCL) were placed on IR after Week 2, and Brady Christensen (Achilles) in Week 9.

Corbett was activated in Week 7 and has played the last six weeks (starting four), and they're leaving the door open for Hunt to return after the bye week. Players could conceivably return from IR twice, but they'd count both times against the eight-player limit.

They've activated four from IR so far, with LaBryan Ray and Jalen Coker coming back, along with Zavala and Corbett.

The Carolina Panthers hold practice on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium. (Photo by Cassie Baker//Carolina Panthers)

To fill Zavala's spot on the active roster, they signed cornerback Kalen King from the practice squad.

King was a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2024 out of Penn State and spent the year on their practice squad. After he was released this year in cuts to the 53, the Panthers signed him to their practice squad on Aug. 28.

He helps bolster a secondary that lost rookie cornerback Corey Thornton for the season to a broken fibula, and Jaycee Horn to a concussion during the 49ers game. Horn has been ruled out this week.

The Panthers also signed Robert Rochell off the Cowboys practice squad earlier this week, and will also be without suspended safety Tre'von Moehrig this week against the Rams.

Isaiah Simmons

Also Saturday, the Panthers activated guard Saahdiq Charles and linebacker Isaiah Simmons from the practice squad by standard elevation.

Charles was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 1 when Zavala went on IR for the first time. The LSU product has played 35 games with 18 starts in the league, during stints with Washington and Dallas.

The Panthers are going to start their 10th different line in 13 games this season (with Jake Curhan replacing Zavala at right guard), and Charles will be the eighth active lineman along with Nick Samac and Yosh Nijman.

Simmons offers an experienced body on defense and special teams. The former No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft (one spot after Derrick Brown) has played in 84 games with 42 starts during his time with the Cardinals, Giants, and Packers.

Check out the best shots of Friday's practice as the Panthers' prepare for their Week 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

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