We’re counting down the days until the Panthers open up the 2025 season!
There are 47 days until the first game of the 2025 season for the Carolina Panthers. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the the player currently wearing the No. 47 jersey — linebacker Josey Jewell.
An eight-year NFL veteran out of the University of Iowa, the 30-year old Jewell is the fifth oldest Panther on the current roster. He’s behind only the 39-year old JJ Jansen, the 37-year old Andy Dalton, the 34-year old Adam Thielen, and the 30-year old Taylor Moton (by only four months).
Jewell has spent his NFL career with only two teams. He was drafted 106th overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft and stayed with them for six season before signing a three-year, $22M contract with the Carolina Panthers during the 2024 free agency period.
With the loss of Shaq Thompson to an early—and Panthers career ending—injury, Jewell quickly and quietly became the most consistent player in the center of the Panthers otherwise incredibly inconsistent defense. He racked up one interception, two fumble recoveries, three and half sacks, seven passes defensed, and 97 tackles despite only appearing in twelve games.
He is expected to start at inside linebacker this season across from Christian Rozeboom, a 2025 free agency addition. Jewell is one of the few starters returning from a 2024 squad that, as we are frequently reminded, gave up an NFL record number of points in a season.