Less than 24 hours removed from causing a fumble on a punt return and starting a shoving match after a kickoff return that resulted in offsetting penalties, the Panthers have waived defensive back Rashaan Gaulden.
Gaulden, who was selected with the 85th pick of the 2018 draft and was expected to contribute as a hybrid nickel cornerback and safety, never found his place in the Ron Rivera defense and played only 143 snaps his rookie season, mostly when injuries forced him into the lineup. This season, after playing 17 snaps in the first game of the season, mostly at the big nickel, Gaulden has played only a single snap on defense since – and none since Week 6.
“We think that [big nickel] is going to truly suit him very well,” Ron Rivera said in August about Gaulden as he entered his second year. “He’s got a role, definitely.”
The 6-0, 200 pound 24-year old defensive back played in 24 games over two seasons with Carolina, including nine this season and was a healthy scratch in Week 2. A third-round draft choice in 2018, he has recorded 13 tackles on defense and seven tackles on special teams during his career. Gaulden, at least outwardly, appeared to have had some disagreements with the coaching staff – he tweeted and subsequently deleted three waving emojis in December of last season and left an August practice session without explanation.
“It was just a football decision,” said Ron Rivera. “Making what we felt was a good decision for the football team and for the young man.”
The defensive back had become a contributor on special teams, playing on over half of the special teams snaps in every game since Week 1; of the 36 players selected in the third round of the 2018 draft, 17 of them – Gaulden included – have not been primary starters at their position for a season, according to Pro Football Reference.
God works in mysterious ways thank you 🙏🏽
— Rashaan Gaulden (@Gmoney_7era) November 25, 2019
That move may be the first of a few made this week as Rivera was noncommital when asked whether they would work out other kickers after Joey Slye missed two extra points and a 28-yard field goal in the last two minutes of their loss in New Orleans that would have given the Panthers the lead. After beginning the season 10-for-11 on field goals and perfect through nine extra point opportunities, the rookie kicker from Virginia Tech known affectionately in the locker room as the ‘Swole Kicker’ has missed four extra points and seven of his 15 field goal attempts over the past seven games.
“Those are things that we will most certainly discuss,” said Rivera. “It is about going and doing your job and Joey’s well aware of that. It’s something that we’re going to talk about.”
In addition to a possible change at kicker, the Panthers are also preparing to be without big men on both sides of the ball as nose tackle Dontari Poe (quad) and left guard Greg Van Roten (toe) will both undergo MRIs.
Van Roten was the only Panther to play every snap in 2018.
Rivera described Poe’s injury, which occurred in the second quarter of the Panthers loss in New Orleans, as serious; Poe, who has four sacks on the season – his most since 2014 – was seen leaving the Superdome on crutches. While the Panthers can use both Kyle Love and Vernon Butler at nose tackle, they may make roster moves for depth on both sides of the line if either is expected to miss time.
UPDATE: The Panthers have signed K Greg Joseph to the practice squad and elevated offensive lineman Garrett McGhin to the active roster, the team announced Monday afternoon.
