Panthers suddenly granted new life to floundering draft bust

Carolina Panthers linebacker Isaiah Simmons | Icon Sportswire/GettyImagesThe Carolina Panthers had to make some slight roster tweaks heading into their crunch Week 17 showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. And it quietly represented the most significant vote of confidence yet for one player whose future looked increasingly bleak.

Carolina won't have second-year linebacker Trevin Wallace available the rest of the way. Head coach Dave Canales confirmed that the 2024 third-round pick underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, leaving Claudin Cherelus and Christian Rozeboom tasked with starting duties as the Panthers look to clinch the NFC South for the first time in a decade.

That meant some…