Panthers add Kemoko Turay for pass-rushing depth

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Kemoko Turay, who split time between Indianapolis and San Francisco over his first five NFL seasons, signed with Carolina last week to provide pass rushing depth.

After two training camp practices, Dan Morgan had seen enough.

It was time to continue orchestrating alterations. After reshaping the offseason roster with no fewer than 76 player transactions, the Carolina Panthers’ general manager made four more moves Friday, including one potentially key addition.

Supplementing a shorthanded outside linebacker corps, Morgan recruited several veterans, including ex-Panther Marquis Haynes, to participate in a tryout at Bank of America Stadium.

“We’re going to look to add depth to every position, like I said before,” Morgan said July 23. “Outside linebacker is no different. We’re just going to try to add as many pieces as we can and create as much competition as we can."

With D.J. Wonnum and Amaré Barno placed on the active/Physically Unable to Perform list, Morgan wanted to fortify depth along the edge of Carolina’s 3-4 defense. Standing out at the tryout was six-year veteran Kemoko Turay, who earned a spot on the 90-man roster.

Considering the Panthers compiled an NFL-low 27 sacks last season, Morgan, a 2004 Pro Bowl linebacker, and coach Dave Canales remain intent on improving the pass rush.  

The Panthers’ new brain trust believes they added a rotational piece in Turay, who tallied 33 tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 12 sacks and seven tackles for loss in 41 career games.

“Just another veteran player, a talented pass rusher,” Canales said. “Versatility, first, second, and third down. A guy that we’ve seen play around the league just the last couple of years, so really excited to get him in the fold and challenge that group.”

In attempting to find a bookend for Jadaveon Clowney, K’Lavon Chaisson has been one of training camp’s early surprises. With Wonnom and Barno sidelined, D.J. Johnson, Eku Leota and Luis Vilain are vying for expanded roles.

Turay, who played with Indianapolis and San Francisco, dressed for the Saturday practice but participated in individual drills only.

To play a bigger role in the Panthers’ plans, Turay must show the coaching staff a few things.

“When you don’t have guys for a full spring, you don’t have a true litmus test for their conditioning and we want them to prove to us that they are ready physically,” Canales said. “We’ll keep an eye on that and get him out there running for a bit.”   

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