The Carolina Panthers made some changes to their practice squad on Tuesday.
It was announced this afternoon that the team has signed four players to the group – including running back Emani Bailey. The 23-year-old is an undrafted rookie out of Texas Christian University.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Bailey played his first two college seasons (2020-2021) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In 16 games as a Ragin' Cajun, he rushed for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries.
Bailey transferred to TCU in time for the 2022 season, where he was positioned behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado on the Horned Frogs' depth chart. He took over as the starter in 2023 and recorded 1,209 yards and eight scores in 12 games.
The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder made it to the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs last spring. However, Bailey would be selected in the 2024 UFL Draft in July as he was selected in the third round by the Birmingham Stallions.
He remained with the Chiefs throughout the summer and subsequently appeared in all three preseason contests, recording 29 rushing yards on ten attempts.
Carolina also added wide receiver TJ Luther, tight end Dominique Dafney and outside linebacker Thomas Incoom – who was from the 53-man squad last Saturday.
To make room for the new signings, the Panthers released wide receiver Sam Pinckney and safety Alex Cook from the practice squad.
They also placed running back Dillon Johnson and tight end Stephen Sullivan on the practice/injured list. Sullivan, as head coach Dave Canales noted suffered a “pretty serious” knee injury in 2019 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
