The Cincinnati Bengals lost a promising young linebacker prospect Monday, as the Carolina Panthers are signing Maema Njongmeta off the Bengals’ practice squad onto their own 53-man roster, according to Charlie Clifford.
Njongmeta was an undrafted free agent from the 2024 offseason out of Wisconsin. He became a core specialist team player last season and was a surprising roster casualty during final cuts this year.
It was a surprise when Njongmeta didn’t make the final roster. Still, the team opted for Shaka Heyward as the team’s fifth linebacker behind Logan Wilson, Oren Burks, Demetrius Knight, and Barrett Carter.
Knight and Carter are rookies, and Wilson is still locked in for a few more seasons, so losing Njongmeta doesn’t sting as badly as it could. However, it is still losing a promising young player for nothing.
Best of luck to the former Bengal as he looks to continue carving out his professional career in Carolina!