Panthers Snag former Steelers Defensive Lineman

The Carolina Panthers have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Chris Wormley to their practice squad, according to the NFL transactions page for Monday.

Wormley had been an unrestricted free agent since his contract with Pittsburgh expired in March, but has also been recovering from the ACL surgery that ended his 2022 season with the Steelers.

The reliable defensive lineman also had a tryout with the New York Giants and New England Patriots earlier this offseason, but ended up not signing with them.

He joins the Panthers just as his services may have been useful to the Steelers, as Pittsburgh will be without starting defensive tackle Cam Heyward for several weeks while he deals with a groin injury. Fellow linemen Larry Ogunjobi (foot) and DeMarvin Leal (triceps) are also less than 100%.

The Steelers could sign Wormley from the Carolina practice squad to their active roster if they choose, but he would then have to stay on the 53-man roster for at least four weeks.

Wormley was injured in the Steelers’ home game against the Baltimore Ravens last December, when he went down with a non-contact knee injury. The injury ended Wormley’s season and cost him most of the offseason as well.

Wormley was in the final year of his two-year contract with the Steelers, meaning that he also hit free agency with the injury looming over his head. Prior to the injury, Chris Wormley racked up 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks on the season as a rotational player along the Steelers’ defensive line. 

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Michigan product spent three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before his two in Pittsburgh.