Panthers to Sign Defensive Lineman John Penisini

The Carolina Panthers are set to add another piece to an already impressive free agent class by agreeing to terms with defensive lineman John Penisini, according to his agent, David Canter.

Penisini was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Utah by the Detroit Lions. He played two years with Detroit before surprisingly announcing his retirement ahead of the 2022 season.

Penisini announced his decision on Instagram but did not reveal any particular reason as to why he was calling it a career at the time. Whether or not it had any impact on his decision, Penisini dealt with some pretty serious shoulder pain in 2021.

“John Penisini had what looked like softballs in his shoulder that he had repaired after the season after the fact,” Campbell explained in a press conference last year. “It just looked like a bunch of calcium deposits that had been in there. You wonder why when you watch the film last year why he’s not using his arm. It’s because he had issues. It’s a credit to him playing through it and all of those things.”

In two years with the Lions, Penisini tallied 49 tackles, four tackles for loss, one QB hit, and one forced fumble. He will provide depth at nose tackle for the Panthers.

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