Panthers sign linebacker Justin Houston

Justin Houston (YouTube)

The Carolina Panthers have signed outside linebacker Justin Houston of Statesboro, Georgia to a one-year contract according to the Canadian Press on Sunday. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Houston is joining his fourth National Football League franchise. He previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2011 to 2018, the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 and 2020, and the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 and 2022.

This past season Houston had 21 combined tackles (14 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, 17 quarterback hits, one interception for five yards, one pass deflection, one forced fumble, and nine and a half sacks. Houston’s most famous sack came on October 27 in a 27-22 Ravens win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the sack, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady set the NFL record for most times being a sacked by a quarterback with 555.

In 2022, Houston’s interception, pass deflection and forced fumble came in Ravens wins. The forced fumble came in a 23-20 Ravens win over the Cleveland Browns on October 23. The interception and pass deflection came in a 27-13 Ravens win over the New Orleans Saints on November 7.

Houston’s most notable NFL seasons came with the Chiefs. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for four straight seasons from 2012 to 2015. While with the Chiefs in 2014, he led the National Football League with 22 sacks.

Houston is one of three defensive players the Panthers have acquired in the offseason. They also came to terms with safety Vonn Bell of Chattanooga, Tennessee to a three-year deal worth $22.5 million and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle of Winston-Salem, North Carolina to a three-year deal worth $19 million. Bell played last season with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tuttle played last season with the New Orleans Saints.

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