Panthers OT Rasheed Walker starts pretrial diversion program after gun charges arrest

Summary: Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker is entering a special six-month program to clear a gun charge from his record. In January, he was arrested at a New York airport for traveling with an unloaded firearm. He had a legal license for it in Wisconsin, but not in New York! Even with this legal trouble, the Panthers just signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract.

Why did they sign him? Because their starting left tackle, Ikem Ekwonu, had surgery in January to fix a completely torn tendon in his knee (a ruptured patellar tendon). This is a serious injury that takes a long time to heal. Walker will step in to protect the quarterback while Ekwonu recovers. Experts originally thought Walker might get a massive $88 million contract, but the arrest and the team's short-term medical need changed everything.

Source: theathletic URL: nytimes.com/athletic/7135020/2026/03/20/rasheed-walker-carolina-panthers-gun-arrest-new-york/ (opens in new tab)