PANTHERS ADD INTERNATIONAL PLAYER THROUGH "IPP" - MAPALO MWANSA

Mapalo Mwansa is a Defensive End. The Panthers added him under the auspices of the IPP (International Player Pathway). It's an interesting "talent bridge" the NFL put in place back in 2017. There have been a significant number of players come into the league to a lot of the teams. The Panthers have had an IPP player once before. A few years back the Panthers had Efe Obada for a couple of years before he left to go to Washington. I THINK he's still there. (Not sure..??)

Anyway Mapalo Mwansa is the Panthers newest addition. There are a lot of special circumstances and rules involved. I'm not completely conversant with them, so I'll not try to bluff my way through it. -- Maybe I'll go read up on it... Maybe..??

PANTHERS.COM:  DE Mapalo Mwansa Joins The Panthers

Eligibility
In 2017, potential applicants to NFL Undiscovered were asked to meet specific requirements and were advised to follow a particular application process.[9] Some of these criteria have either changed over time or there is some discretion applied during the selection process, as not all the athletes that have come through the program in the intervening years meet all of the following criteria.

• age 24 or younger
  
• out of high school (or equivalent) for at least four years
  
• did not play football at an American college
  
• ability to speak English
  
• not a citizen of the U.S. or Canada
  
• must be available and eligible to travel to the U.S. for two months from the first week in March
  

Roster regulations
The NFL has specific regulations for players that sign through the IPP. The teams to which each IPP player is assigned are allowed 91 players[10] on their off-season rosters, one more than those teams that are not participating in the IPP that year. At the point when these rosters need to be cut to 53 (at the end of pre-season), the participating teams must decide the status of their IPP players.[11][12][13]

First, the team can keep their IPP player on their 53-man roster. If they waive the player, he goes through the NFL's waiver system, which allows him to be claimed by another team. If he clears waivers, the team can sign the player to their practice squad. If they do, they may elect to take an exemption for the IPP player, giving them an extra spot on their practice squad. If they utilize the exemption, that player cannot be signed to the active roster of any team during the season, but starting in 2024 the player can be elevated for up to three games.[14] If the exemption is declined, the player is treated like any other practice squad player, and can be promoted to a team's active roster. If the player chooses to sign with a team other than the one to which he was assigned, that team may not claim the exemption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internatio...er_Pathway

Okay... Thanks LP.!!  I THOUGHT that these players did not count toward the roster limits. Apparently I was wrong. They don't count up until cut-down day, thereafter they apparently DO count.

Does anyone else remember Efe Obada.??  How long did we keep him? I think it was two years..??  If so, and these rules are still the same, then Obada counted against our 53 roster. I remember he didn't LIVE on the Practice Squad. I know he played in games...

We get an extra if he is on the practice squad...where you would expect him to be for a couple of years.

For those who care....

Here is the backstory on Efe Obada. I mis-remembered. He was actually with the Panthers for three years. He joined the IPP at it's inception, back in 2017. He had actually had several try-outs before joining the International Player Pathways program

Obada started playing "American" football in London in 2014. He was "found" and later signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 where he resided on their Practice Squad. In 2016, he then joined the Chiefs followed by the Falcons where he was a Practice Squadder and was released from both teams. In 2017 Obada joined the upstart IPP and was signed by the Panthers...

Carolina Panthers
On 25 May 2017, Obada was signed by the Carolina Panthers through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. He was waived by the Panthers on 1 September 2017, and was re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on 8 January 2018. After a strong preseason, Obada became the first player from the NFL International Player Pathway program to make a 53-man roster. In Week 3, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Obada played his first regular season game, where he had one sack and one interception. He was later awarded the game ball, and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with eight combined tackles and two sacks.

On 23 January 2019, Obada signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. On 13 October 2019, Obada was made an honorary captain for the Panthers' NFL London Game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of a very emotional day for him.

On 6 January 2020, Obada signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers. He was waived on 6 September 2020, but re-signed with the team the next day. In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Obada recovered a fumble lost by wide receiver Keenan Allen on the last play of the game to secure a 21–16 win for the Panthers.

Buffalo Bills
On 19 April 2021, Obada signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. He recorded 3.5 sacks with 12 tackles in 10 games.

Washington Commanders
Obada signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders on 23 March 2022. He re-signed with the team on another one-year contract on 20 March 2023.

On 31 August 2023, he was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury. He was reactivated to the active roster on 14 October 2023. In the Week 11 game, Obada was carted off the field due to multiple leg fractures and underwent surgery the next day. On 20 November 2023, he was placed on injured reserve.

On 14 March 2024, Obada re-signed with the Commanders on another one-year contract. He placed on physically unable to perform before the season opener and was activated on 12 October 2024. Obada was released on 5 November 2024, and re-signed with their practice squad the following day.

Ref: Wikipedia

Best of luck to the new guy.

As for Obada, I was pulling for him. Thought he put forth a great effort while here.

Best of luck to the new guy. 

As for Obada, I was pulling for him.  Thought he put forth a great effort while here.

You're right. He definitely put in the work. Solid rotational contributor.

I remember that London game. He was WELL received over there. He was emotionally overwhelmed when he was announced and the crowd recognized him.!!

Best part.... He's still active with Washington. Playing on repeat one year contracts. This must be his 10th year; 8th year one active rosters. He started late too. He's 33 years old ... on one-year contracts.!!!

I was always a fan...hated to see him leave.  IIRC...the 1st time he was activated (or got some playing time)...he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week,