South Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers have made a significant change to their roster as they prepare for the 2025 season by releasing veteran cornerback Dane Jackson. This move comes after Jackson joined the team last spring as a free agent, following his four-year tenure with the Buffalo Bills.

Jackson's time with the Panthers was impacted by an injury, as he was placed on injured reserve during training camp due to a hamstring issue. Upon his return, Mike Jackson had already secured the starting position opposite Jaycee Horn.

Activated in October, Dane Jackson participated in nine games and started three of them, primarily playing as a slot corner. During these appearances, he recorded 23 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and defended two passes while participating in 43 percent of the defensive snaps.

The Panthers have been focusing on younger talent within their defense. Last spring, they drafted Chau Smith-Wade, who shared slot corner duties with Jackson and started four games. General Manager Dan Morgan expressed optimism about the development of young players like Smith-Wade: "We got some young guys on defense that we're excited about too," Morgan said in January. "Guys are going to continue to develop, get better; a lot of these guys gained a lot of experience this year, so I think that'll be valuable really going forward."

As the new league year and free agency period approach on March 12, further adjustments to the team's lineup may be anticipated.