Carolina Panthers Elevate Cornerback Caleb Farley to Active Roster

The Carolina Panthers have officially added cornerback Caleb Farley to their 53-man active roster, according to his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, who confirmed the signing to ESPN‘s Adam Schefter. This move marks a significant step in Farley’s career, which had previously been hindered by multiple injuries.

Farley, the 22nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, began reviving his career with the Panthers after his stint with the Tennessee Titans was cut short due to injuries. He joined Carolina’s practice squad on October 1st and has been gradually proving his capabilities, appearing in three games for the team this season.

In a recent game against the team in Munich, Germany, Farley played a season-high 23 snaps, contributing to the Panthers’ 20-17 victory before their bye week. The Panthers, holding a 3-7 record, exhausted their practice squad activations for Farley, prompting the decision to promote him to the active roster based on his strong performances.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan praised Farley’s potential, stating, «You could see why he was drafted in the first round, the athleticism that he showed, the way he can flip his hips, change directions, the way he transitions, the way he can run. He was really impressive.» Morgan expressed hope that the new signing would mark a turn of fortunes for Farley, saying, «He’s had a lot of bad luck. I hope he’s happy here.»

Farley’s journey has been marked by numerous setbacks. As a college player at Virginia Tech, he suffered a torn ACL in 2017 and later dealt with back issues that persisted into his professional career. Another torn ACL ended his rookie NFL season after just three games with the Titans. More back problems in 2022 led to surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2023 season. Farley was released by the Titans in August but found his way to Carolina two months later.

The cornerback’s off-field life has also been touched by tragedy. After relocating to his childhood home in Hickory, North Carolina, Farley resides close to his roots following the passing of his parents. His mother died of breast cancer in 2018, and his father was killed in a gas leak explosion at his Mooresville, North Carolina home in 2023.