Chandler Wooten began Tuesday as a member of the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad. On Sunday, the former Auburn linebacker made the first start of his NFL career for the Carolina Panthers.
In the Panthers’ 36-30 overtime victory against Arizona last week, Carolina had three inside linebackers available – starter Josey Jewell, Jacoby Windmon, an undrafted rookie with two snaps of regular-season experience; and Jon Rhattigan, a career special-teamer.
That prompted the Panthers to sign Wooten off the 49ers’ practice squad on Tuesday.
With Jewell sidelined by a concussion, Wooten was in the lineup with Windom for Carolina’s 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Panthers reached out for Wooten because he had played in 20 games for Carolina over the past three seasons, including three in 2024. But the Panthers had released Wooten on Nov. 7.
Wooten left Carolina with 16 career tackles. After one game back, he has 30. Wooten recorded 14 tackles against Tampa Bay to top the Panthers’ defensive chart.
Wooten’s seven solo stops on Sunday were one more than he had in his career entering the contest.
Wooten was among the 15 former Auburn players who got on the field on the 17th Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.
Four other former Auburn players were involved in the Carolina-Tampa Bay game:
- Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) made three tackles.
- Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
- Jamel Dean started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made one tackle and broke up one pass before leaving the game because of knee issues.
- Buccaneers running back D.J. Williams is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
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