Here are the players that were cut by their respective teams on Monday, February 26. The five athletes who were released come from two teams, the Panthers and Bears.
Carolina Panthers
Kurt Coleman - S
Coleman will be released with two years left on his contract. The move will free up $2.65 million in salary cap room for Carolina. The 29-year-old safety started all 42 of his games with the Panthers over the last three seasons, including 12 in 2017. Last year, Coleman recorded 76 tackles but no interceptions. He picked off four passes in 2016 and seven in 2015 while returning one for a touchdown in both years.
Charles Johnson - DE
In a move that will create $3.25 million in cap space, the Panthers have decided to move on from Johnson who has spent each of his 11 seasons with Carolina. Despite starting 11 games (he was suspended four games for a wellness policy violation), the 31-year-old Johnson did not have a single sack and just 16 tackles. The defensive end has 67.5 career sacks with the Panthers (second in team history only behind Julius Peppers) including three seasons with double-digit totals.
John Theus - OT
Theus, a fifth round pick by the 49ers in 2016, was released by the Panthers on Monday. The move will only free up approximately $150k of salary cap room. The 24-year-old offensive lineman was claimed off waivers by Carolina last September but was placed on injured reserve in December without ever seeing the field for the team.
He appeared in four games for the 49ers in 2016 with one start.
Chicago Bears
Quintin Demps - S
Cutting the 32-year-old Demps will open up an additional $3.26 million in salary cap room for Chicago. The 10-year veteran started and played in just three games in his only season for the Bears in 2017 before being placed on injured reserve.
Demps finished the year with 12 tackles. He intercepted six passes in 13 starts during the previous season with the Texans and intercepted four in two other years (2013 with the Chiefs and 2014 with the Giants).
Pernell McPhee - LB
McPhee signed a large deal, leaving the Ravens to join Chicago in 2015, but was never able to stay fully healthy.
By cutting the 29-year-old, the Bears will save $7.1 million. The linebacker played in 13 games (five starts) in 2017, finishing the year with 21 tackles and four sacks. McPhee had 10 sacks in 23 games during his first two seasons with the Bears in 2015-16 and has 31 total in his seven-year career.
