Carolina Panthers claim defensive end Jalen Jelks off waivers

The Carolina Panthers have claimed second year pro Jalen Jelks. The defensive end was waived by the Dallas Cowboys as part of their acquisition of Everson Griffen yesterday.

Jelks is technically in his second year in the NFL, but he spent his rookie year on the Cowboys’ injured reserve after suffering an undisclosed injury following their final preseason game of 2019.

A University of Oregon product, Jelks has a big frame and the potential to build up enough mass to become an ideal size for an NFL defensive end. He had a quiet senior season at Oregon after a breakout junior season that landed him on numerous first- and second-team All-PAC-12 Conference lists., It has been too long since he has played meaningful football to project his impact on the Panthers rather thin rotation at defensive end.

Claiming Jelks has returned the Panthers roster to 80-players. That will give them a full complement once Jelks clears the COVID protocols and is allowed to actually join the team for practice.