When the Panthers return to work on Monday, there will be a new face in the locker room.
While many clamor for a signing in the defensive secondary ahead of the team’s Week 4 bye, the Panthers have completed a trade with the Buffalo Bills for tackle Marshall Newhouse, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. Carolina will send Buffalo a future conditional draft pick in exchange for the 6-4, 330 pound Newhouse.
Newhouse, who started 14 games for the Oakland Raiders in 2017, signed a one-year deal with the Bills in March but did not crack the starting lineup after drawing multiple penalties throughout the preseason – the TCU grad who will turn 30 on Saturday was the primary backup swing tackle for the Bills and played only 14 snaps over the first four games.
The backup swing tackle spot was occupied by Corey Robinson, whom the team has waived after the tackle was acquired via trade from the Detroit Lions on the first day of the NFL regular season
The Panthers have faced what some might call a catastrophe at tackle this season thus far, with both starters – Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams – currently on injured reserve with knee injures; Kalil is expected to return in November as soon as he is eligible. The Panthers top backup tackle, Taylor Moton, is currently starting at right tackle and the man who was behind him – Jeremiah Sirles – was released before Week 1 with an injury settlement; Chris Clark, whom the Panthers signed less than two weeks ago, has started the previous two games at left tackle.
The ‘makeshift’ offensive line consisting of Clark, journeyman Greg Van Roten, Ryan Kalil, Tyler Larsen – who is starting in place of Pro Bowler Trai Turner, who was placed in the concussion protocol – and Moton has played well the past two weeks, not allowing Cam Newton to be sacked in Week 3 and helping the Panthers rush for 230 yards against the Bengals.
Newhouse, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 Draft, has played for five teams over his nine-year career and started the majority of the games in four of those seasons; the Dallas native, who won a Super Bowl with the Packers his rookie season, was a member of the Horticulture Society and Japanese Club at Lake Highlands High School.
This marks the third trade between the Panthers and the Bills, who boast former Panthers assistant general manager Brandon Beane as their GM, over the course of the past two seasons.
