The NFL waiver wire is a cold, relentless machine. One day you’re fighting for a depth chart spot in Spartanburg, and the next, you’re looking for a flight home. That’s the reality for Kenny Dyson Jr. right now. The Carolina Panthers made the move to waive the rookie linebacker, a decision that might seem like a minor transaction on a random Tuesday, but it actually reveals a lot about where Dan Morgan and Dave Canales are taking this defense.
Roster cuts hurt. Especially for a guy like Dyson.
Coming out of McNeese State, Dyson was always an uphill climber. He wasn’t a blue-chip prospect with a five-star pedigree. He was a productive, gritty edge player who had to prove his burst translated to the speed of the professional game. When the Panthers waive Kenny Dyson Jr., it isn't necessarily a reflection of him "failing" as much as it is a reflection of the brutal numbers game that defines the bottom of an NFL roster during the season's middle stretch.
The McNeese State Pipeline and the Reality of the Jump
Look at his college tape. Dyson was a disruptor. At McNeese, he showed a real knack for getting into the backfield, finishing his career there with impressive sack numbers and a high motor. But the jump from the Southland Conference to facing off against NFL tackles like Taylor Moton or Ikem Ekwonu in practice is a chasm. It’s huge.
Most fans don't realize how tight these windows are. A player gets maybe three or four reps in a team period to show they belong. If you're a half-second late on a stunt or you lose your gap integrity once, the coaching staff notices. Ejiro Evero’s defensive system is notoriously complex. It requires linebackers to be incredibly fluid—switching from a pass-rush stance to a flat-drop coverage in a heartbeat.
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Honestly, Dyson’s profile was always that of a developmental "tweener." At 6'3" and roughly 245 pounds, he has the frame of a modern outside linebacker, but in a 3-4 scheme, you have to be more than just a pass rusher. You have to be a special teams ace. That’s usually where these decisions are made. If you aren't starting, you better be the first guy down the field on a kickoff. If someone else is outperforming you on the "we-fense" (as coaches love to call special teams), your seat gets hot fast.
Why the Panthers Waive Kenny Dyson Jr. at This Specific Juncture
Timing is everything in the league. You don't just cut players for fun. Usually, a move like this signals a corresponding transaction. Maybe a veteran is coming off the Injured Reserve (IR) list. Maybe there’s a guy on another team's practice squad that the scouting department has been eyeing for months.
When the Panthers waive Kenny Dyson Jr., they are likely clearing space for immediate help at a position of greater need. Let's be real: Carolina has been decimated by injuries. The inside linebacker room and the secondary have been a revolving door. If you have a surplus of developmental edge talent but you’re bleeding yards in the run game or over the middle, you make the move.
- Injury Management: With the 2025-2026 season being particularly physical, keeping a developmental prospect on the active roster is a luxury many teams can't afford.
- Practice Squad Shuffling: There is a very high probability the Panthers want Dyson back on the practice squad. By waiving him now, they’re betting that other teams won’t use an active roster spot on a raw rookie mid-season. It’s a gamble.
- Scheme Fit: Sometimes, after a few months of practice, the staff realizes a player’s "best-case scenario" doesn't actually fit the long-term vision of the defense.
It's a business. It's cold. But it's the only way to survive a 17-game gauntlet.
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The Ejiro Evero Factor and Defensive Identity
Evero is a mastermind. He’s one of the few bright spots in the organization over the last couple of years. His defensive philosophy relies on versatility. He wants "positionless" players. He wants guys who can disguise a blitz and then back-pedal into a Cover 3 look without breaking a sweat.
Dyson showed flashes of that raw athleticism, but the technical refinement—the hand placement, the leverage, the ability to shed a block from a 320-pound veteran—takes time. The Panthers are in a weird spot. They are rebuilding, yes, but they also need to show progress now. They can't wait three years for a project to develop if they have a chance to grab a more polished contributor today.
Basically, the roster is a living organism. It’s always breathing and changing. When you hear the news that the Panthers waive Kenny Dyson Jr., you have to look at the "Next Man Up" mentality. Who takes those snaps? Is DJ Johnson stepping up? Is there a veteran free agent like Justin Houston or someone similar lurking in the shadows for a late-season veteran minimum deal?
What Happens Next for Kenny Dyson Jr.?
Don't count the kid out. Being waived isn't the end of the road.
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If he clears waivers, he becomes a free agent. At that point, Carolina can sign him to their practice squad, assuming another team doesn't snag him. Most rookies who get waived in this fashion end up back with their original team within 48 hours. It’s a procedural dance. They need the roster spot for a Sunday activation, and once the game is over, the deck gets shuffled again.
However, if a team like the Falcons or the Saints saw something they liked in his pre-draft evaluation, they could put in a claim. That’s the risk Dan Morgan takes. But Morgan, having come from the Seahawks and Bills front offices, knows that you can't be afraid to move pieces. You have to be aggressive.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
Tracking these "minor" moves is actually the best way to predict a team's future strategy. If you want to stay ahead of the curve on Panthers roster moves, keep an eye on these specific indicators:
- Monitor the IR return designations: Whenever a player like a starting linebacker or a key special teamer is eligible to return from the 4-week IR stint, expect a corresponding cut like Dyson.
- Watch the Practice Squad Elevations: Teams are limited in how many times they can "call up" a player from the practice squad. If they've exhausted those for a certain player, they have to move someone like Dyson to make room for a permanent roster addition.
- Check the Waiver Wire Priority: Because of their record, Carolina often has a high priority on the waiver wire. They might waive a player simply because they found a "better" version of that player being cut by a team like the Chiefs or Eagles.
The move to waive Kenny Dyson Jr. is a microcosm of the NFL’s "what have you done for me lately" culture. It’s about 53 spots and 2,000 players fighting for them. Dyson has the talent to stick somewhere; it just remains to be seen if his future is in Charlotte or if this move marks the beginning of a journey through the league's various practice squads until he finds the right fit for his specific skill set.
Keep an eye on the official league transactions over the next 24 hours. If Dyson's name doesn't pop up on the wire for another team, expect him back in a blue and black practice jersey by Thursday. If he's gone, it tells you everything you need to know about how other scouts in the league value his potential.
Stay updated on the official team transactions through the Panthers' digital platforms or the NFL's daily wire. For those tracking roster turnover, pay close attention to the "Transactions" tab on the team's website to see who fills Dyson's vacant spot immediately.