Evans (triceps) was placed on injured reserve by the Panthers on Thursday, Darin Gantt of the team's official website reports.
Evans is dealing with a triceps injury, and he was unable to practice at all this week ahead of being ruled out for Thursday night's contest versus Green Bay. The 27-year-old will now be forced to miss at least four games while on IR, and in his absence, Will Lee, Malcolm DeWalt and Chau Smith-Wade will stand to operate as the team's primary options at cornerback.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Ruled out for TNF
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Evans (triceps) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday night's game against the Packers.
Evans logged three consecutive DNPs in Week 8 prep. The cornerback was unable to overcome his new injury during the Panthers' short week, leaving him sidelined for Thursday's contest. Will Lee and Chau Smith-Wade are now the only cornerbacks on the Panthers' active roster, meaning multiple defensive backs will likely be elevated to the active roster for Thursday's game.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: DNP on Monday's practice estimate
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Evans (triceps/knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate.
With Jaycee Horn (quadriceps) and Mike Jackson (groin) both on injured reserve, Evans started in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers, finishing with two total tackles (two solo). The 27-year-old will have a few more days to get healthy ahead of Thursday's game against Green Bay, but if he can't suit up, Chau Smith-Wade and Robert Rochell could be in line for more snaps.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Double-digit stops in win
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Evans recorded 11 total tackles (nine solo) and a pass defensed during Sunday night's 32-26 win over the Lions.
Evans stepped into a starting role at cornerback after Mike Jackson (groin) and Jaycee Horn (quadriceps) were both placed on injured reserve. The 27-year-old led the team in takedowns, and he'll likely operate in a starting role again Week 6 against the Eagles.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Not listed on injury report
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Evans (neck) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report.
Evans was held out of the Panthers' preseason finale against the Texans on Aug. 28 after aggravating a neck injury during practice. However, his absence from the first injury report of Week 1 prep indicates that he'll be available to play against the Bears on Sunday. Evans contributed mostly on special teams during the 2025 regular season, finishing with 12 tackles (six solo) across 16 games.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Aggravates neck issue
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Evans (neck) did not play in Friday's preseason finale against the Texans, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Evans aggravated a neck injury during Wednesday's practice and was subsequently held out of Friday's game. The backup cornerback signed a one-year deal in March to stay with the Panthers and will likely reprise his role with the team in 2026.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Staying in Carolina
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Evans is set to sign a one-year deal with the Panthers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 26-year-old corner appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Panthers last season, recording 12 total tackles while playing a key role on special teams (153 snaps). After re-signing with Carolina on Monday, Evans is expected to maintain a similar role ahead of the 2026 season.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Ready for Sunday
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Evans (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets.
Evans missed the Panthers' Week 6 win over the Cowboys and was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but he upgraded to a full session Friday and is now in line to play Sunday. The 26-year-old corner from Missouri has played 57 total snaps (50 on special teams, seven on defense) through five appearances this season, recording four total tackles.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Stays limited Thursday
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Evans (hamstring) remained a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Evans has kicked off Week 7 prep with consecutive limited practice sessions after missing Carolina's Week 6 win over the Cowboys. Friday's practice participation level will shed some light on Evans' chances of returning to action Sunday against the Jets.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Sidelined for Week 6
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Evans (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.
Evans likely sustained a hamstring injury in Carolina's Week 5 win over the Dolphins that's now holding him out of Sunday's contest. The fourth-year pro has played just seven defensive snaps through five games, so his absence will likely have minimal impact on the Panthers' defense in Week 6.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Recovered from rib injury
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Evans (ribs) has been participating in OTAs, Jeff Hawkins of The Charlotte Post reports.
Evans is working with the second-team defense to begin OTAs. He has recovered from the rib injury he suffered in Carolina's 2024 season finale. Evans could earn a larger role in the secondary with a strong camp.
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Panthers' Akayleb Evans: Won't return to Week 18 clash
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Evans (ribs) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest against Atlanta, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Evans was hurt early in the second quarter and was ruled out just after halftime. While he was in the game, the Missouri product logged two tackles (both solo). Evans will finish the 2024 campaign with five tackles over nine games between Minnesota and Carolina.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Inactive Sunday night
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Evans (hip) is inactive for Sunday Night Football against the Colts.
The depth cornerback missed the Vikings' last two games with the hip issue but participated fully in practice Wednesday. Fabian Moreau and Josh Metellus are now Minnesota's only available backup corners for Sunday night's game.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Iffy for Thursday
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Evans (hip) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams.
Evans has been limited in practice this week after missing the Vikings' Week 7 loss to the Lions. The third-year pro has been pretty much limited to special teams work so far this season, so his potential absence in Week 8 wouldn't impact Minnesota's defense in any way unless further injuries occur.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Limited in practice Tuesday
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Evans (hip) was listed as a limited practice participant on the Vikings' injury report Tuesday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Evans was unable to play against the Lions on Sunday due to a hip injury. The 2022 fourth-round pick will have one more chance Wednesday to avoid an injury designation heading into Thursday night's game against the Rams. Evans has primarily served on special teams this year and has accrued two tackles (one solo) across five regular-season games.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Out for Week 7
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Evans (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.
A fourth-round pick in 2022, Evans has played just three defensive snaps across five appearances this season. He's mostly been limited to special-teams work for Minnesota.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Limited to special teams
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Evans was limited to 15 snaps on special teams in Sunday's win over Houston. He did not play a snap on defense.
After starting 15 games and playing 832 snaps on defense last season, Evans has been relegated to a special teams role. He's played just three snaps on defense this season.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Up-and-down sophomore season
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Evans logged 65 total tackles, seven passes defended and three forced fumbles in 15 games during the 2023 regular season.
The 2022 fourth-round pick out of Missouri saw a major uptick in work from his rookie year, starting all 15 of the games he appeared in for Minnesota and playing almost 700 more snaps than in 2022. Evans definitely struggled at times, even getting benched during a Week 16 loss to the Lions, but the 24-year-old was still productive. It's uncertain what role Evans will play on the Vikings' defense next season, as the team is likely to make bolstering its secondary a top offseason priority.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Gets first interception of career
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Evans recorded four tackles (three solo) and an interception in Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss at Cincinnati.
Evans came up with the first pick of his young career in the middle of the third quarter in Week 15 on a badly underthrown ball by Jake Browning intended for Irv Smith. However, Evans has been far from reliable in coverage this season, and Minnesota's defense has a tough test on tap in Week 16 versus the Lions.
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Vikings' Akayleb Evans: Returns to practice Wednesday
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Evans (calf) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice session.
Evans sustained a calf injury in Week 10 against the Saints. He missed the next two games but looks to be on track to play Sunday against the Raiders, thanks to the Vikings' Week 13 bye week. Through 10 games, Evans has recorded 49 tackles (36 solo), five pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
