CHARLOTTE – Canadian offensive tackle David Foucault made a strong first impression at rookie minicamp, and now he's the first tryout player to sign with the Panthers in 2014.
The 6-8, 320-pounder from the University of Montreal was the fifth overall pick in the 2014 Canadian Football League Draft by the Montreal Alouettes.
"He's got long arms and he's got a nice accent," head coach Ron Rivera said. "He did some nice things. He's very athletic. What's really nice is as (offensive line coaches John Matsko and Ray Brown) started trying to get him to understand certain techniques and the way we do things here – it's a little bit different obviously – he seemed to be able to pick those things up.
"He's very intriguing for us."
Last year, Carolina signed fellow-Canadian tryout Linden Gaydosh – a defensive tackle who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 CFL Draft. He spent the entire season on injured reserve with a back injury.
The Panthers have also signed punter Jordan Gay, who attended training camp with Carolina as a rookie in 2013. He most recently spent time with the New York Giants, joining the team in January before being waived May 12. A three-time Southern Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year at Centre College, he handled punting and placekicking duties for three seasons. Gay generated a gross punting average of 42.7 yards with 31 punts inside the 20 and a long of 73 yards on 113 punts and converted 111-of-114 extra point opportunities and 31-of-49 field goal attempts.
In corresponding roster moves, the Panthers have waived tackle Travis Bond, guard Michael Jasper and guard Phillipkeith Manley. Bond played in two games, did not play in two games and was inactive for three games for Carolina last season after being signed as a free agent from Minnesota's practice squad on November 13. Jasper spent the entire 2013 regular season, with the exception of Week 1, and postseason on the Panthers' practice squad. Manley had joined the team earlier this offseason as a free agent.
