Panthers edge Brian Burns had surgery last Wednesday on his right ankle, the team announced Monday. Burns missed Week 18 with what was deemed an ankle sprain, but he returned to participate in the Pro Bowl games. Panthers.com's Darin Gantt reports that Burns continued to feel soreness as he began the offseason program, however. Tests revealed a "small fracture," which Dr. Robert Anderson repaired. Carolina expects Burns to be ready for training camp and play the season with "no limitations." This obviously adds a challenge for a rising, young pass rusher, though. We'll be watching Burns' progress this summer. Don't be surprised if we're a little cautious with his initial projections, coming in mid-May.

The Panthers have reached a deal with former Bengals S Vonn Bell, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Carolina still has S Xavier Woods, who signed for three years as a free agent last offseason. The team lists Jeremy Chinn as a safety as well, but he moves around the formation. According to Pro Football Focus, Chinn actually played more snaps at slot CB than anywhere else last season. So expect the Panthers to have room for all three players in their primary defensive alignments. Cincinnati, meanwhile, must replace both safeties. Dax Hill -- a late first-round pick last April -- should fill one spot. We'll see about the other. Hill gets a boost in the dynasty rankings with these departures.

The Panthers are hiring Ejiro Evero as DC, according to multiple reports. In his 1st year as Broncos DC, Evero earned widespread praise. He piloted a unit that ranked 7th in yards allowed, 14th in points allowed and 10th in Football Outsiders' DVOA. Denver likely would have ranked even better but traded EDGE Bradley Chubb during the season and lost S Justin Simmons to injury for 5 games (among other injuries). Evero -- who has been on NFL staffs since 2007, except for 1 year spent at the D-III level -- impressed enough to draw head-coaching interviews this offseason. He'll take over a Panthers defense with some talented pieces. Chief among those are EDGE Brian Burns, S Jeremy Chinn, CB Jaycee Horn and DT Derrick Brown. Don't be surprised if the Carolina defense becomes more of a fantasy football factor in 2023.

Panthers EDGE Brian Burns (ankle) is inactive for today's game against the Saints.

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn broke his left wrist in Saturday's win over the Lions. Interim HC Steve Wilks announced Monday that Horn will have surgery Tuesday and that doctors would determine his status after that. We'd bet on Horn missing at least Week 17, which makes him cuttable in IDP fantasy football leagues.

Panthers S Xavier Woods (ankle) is active for today's game against the Steelers.

Panthers S Xavier Woods (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks. We'll check his status Sunday, but Woods is a low-level IDP option.

Panthers S Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) is active for the 1st time since suffering his injury back in Week 4. We don't yet know just how much he'll play, but there's room for him to jump back into a full-time role with several other safeties missing. CB Jaycee Horn (foot) is also active.

The Panther have activated S Jeremy Chinn (hamstring). That doesn't necessarily mean he'll play Sunday against the Ravens. Interim HC Steve Wilks on Friday called Chinn a game-time decision. But this at least makes it possible for the safety to return to the lineup. Even if he plays Sunday, Chinn might find his role limited. Wilks called his return from injury a "work in progress." That said, the team is down S Juston Burris and will likely miss S Myles Hartsfield. So they might need to play Chinn full time -- or at least find added motivation to do so. Chinn will be a risk-reward option for IDP lineups, barring clear statements on his intended usage.

Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks called S Jeremy Chinn "a work in progress" in his return from a hamstring injury and deemed the safety a game-time decision for Sunday against the Ravens, according to NFL.com. That makes Chinn risky even if active, but we'll watch his status Sunday. If Chinn sits again, he won't be replaced by S Juston Burris (out: illness, concussion) and probably not by S Myles Hartsfield either (doubtful: ankle). Carolina has also ruled DT Matt Ioannidis (calf) out. CB Jaycee Horn (foot) is questionable but finished the week with 2 full practices.

The Panthers did not activate S Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) from IR ahead of tonight's game against the Falcons. That means another start for Myles Hartsfield, who has been added to our Week 10 IDP rankings. Chinn looks like he's on track to be ready for Week 11.

The Panthers on Tuesday designated S Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) to return from IR, and he practiced with the team. Designating him to return opens a 21-day window for getting Chinn back on the active roster, so the team will still need to make that move before he can play Thursday night against the Falcons. Chinn also doesn't appear on the injury report this week because he's not yet back on the active roster. We'll watch to see whether he's ready for Thursday night.

Panthers CB Donte Jackson (ankle) is active for today's game against the Bengals.

The Panthers are not activating S Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) ahead of today's game at Cincinnati. Interim HC Steve Wilks said they hope to get him back onto the field ahead of Thursday night's game against the Falcons. Myles Hartsfield should be in line for another start and has climbed our Week 9 IDP rankings.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) and CB Jaycee Horn (ribs) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Horn's status is not surprising after he missed the past 2 games. A full Friday practice for him makes him appear likely to return, but he's a low-level IDP option against an Atlanta offense allergic to passing. Luvu entered last week's game questionable and played a season-low 68% of the snaps. He practiced every day this week, sandwiching a full Thursday workout between 2 limited days. Luvu will carry some risk for IDP lineups if he plays this week. He's sitting in low-RB3 territory in our Week 8 IDP rankings.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) is active for today's game against the Buccaneers. He missed the past 2 with the injury. CB Jaycee Horn (ribs) is inactive. CB Donte Jackson (ankle) is active.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. He finished the week with a full practice and seems on track to play.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) put in a full practice Wednesday. That bodes well for his chances of returning after missing Sunday's loss to the 49ers. We'll watch to confirm that.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) and S Xavier Woods (hamstring) are inactive for today's game against the 49ers.

Panthers LB Frankie Luvu (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers. He sandwiched a missed Thursday practice between a pair of limited workouts this week. S Xavier Woods (hamstring) is also questionable after missing practice all week. HC Matt Rhule said Friday he expects both guys to play, according to Panthers Wire. We'll confirm their statuses Sunday afternoon. It is a 4:05 p.m. ET start, so make sure you have insurance if you're waiting on Luvu for your IDP lineup.