Will NFL UDFA Aaron Hall receive early opportunity after Panthers lose DT Tershawn Wharton to neck injury?
Carolina will have an OTA opening along the defensive line with the veteran sidelined.
Will NFL UDFA Aaron Hall receive early opportunity after Panthers lose DT Tershawn Wharton to neck injury? originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Rookie Aaron Hall recognized the opportunity with the Carolina Panthers as the "best of situations. " The situation is developing better than expected for the Carolina Panthers' undrafted free agent. Following recent neck surgery, veteran defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton will miss the upcoming offseason training activities (OTAs) and will likely begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, The Athletic reported .
Wharton, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal last summer, appeared in nine games during an injury-marred 2025. A former Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs , Wharton posted 36 tackles and two sacks and was expected to play a bigger role in '26. Now, his snaps are up for grabs.
Panthers UDFA rookie Aaron Hall gets improved NFL chance After spending five seasons at Duke, Hall will attempt to utilize his versatility to gain early attention. The Panthers' scouting department, spearheaded by general manager Dan Morgan, is developing a reputation for targeting and developing raw talent. Third-year wide receiver Jalen Coker and second-year defensive back Corey Thornton both earned significant snaps when healthy last season.