Will Grier has retired, and the Carolina Panthers put him on the reserve/retired list on Wednesday, ending a comeback that began just three months ago. The move leaves the Panthers with three quarterbacks heading into training camp next week.
Grier, 31, was back with his hometown team on a one-year deal after Carolina drafted him in the third round in 2019. He appeared in two regular-season games as a rookie, then moved through stops with the Cowboys, Bengals, Patriots, Chargers and Eagles before returning to Charlotte.
The timing matters because camp is about to begin and the Panthers are already sorting out the depth chart around Bryce Young, the starter, Kenny Pickett, the veteran backup, and Haynes King, the undrafted rookie. With Grier gone, King should get a larger share of the work as Carolina gets ready for the Hall of Fame Game against the Cardinals on Aug. 6.
What is left unanswered is why Grier chose to walk away now, just as a path back to the field had reopened. The decision closes the door on a familiar quarterback option for Carolina and narrows the competition before the first snaps of camp are even taken.
The Panthers will head to Canton, Ohio, with a stripped-down quarterback room and a short runway before Luke Kuechly is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For Grier, the return home ends before training camp ever starts.
