Leota was waived by the Panthers on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Leota's exit may come as a bit of a surprise after he played 44 and 35 percent of the team's defensive snaps in the first two weeks of the season. Over that time the Auburn product recorded four tackles and 1.0 sacks. He'll now have to work to find a new opportunity, or he could ultimately end up on Carolina's practice squad.
Unlock the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news — direct to your inbox.
Status
ACTIVELatest Eku Leota news
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Birthdate
5/11/1999 (25)
Status
Practice Squad
HT/WT
6'4", 257 lbs
Birthplace
Asheville, NC, USA
Position
LB
College
Auburn
Experience
2 seasons
Career History
Pittsburgh Steelers
2024-Present
(1 season)
Carolina Panthers
2023-2024
(2 seasons)
Leota was waived by the Panthers on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Leota's exit may come as a bit of a surprise after he played 44 and 35 percent of the team's defensive snaps in the first two weeks of the season. Over that time the Auburn product recorded four tackles and 1.0 sacks. He'll now have to work to find a new opportunity, or he could ultimately end up on Carolina's practice squad.
Leota recorded four total tackles (all solo), including 1.0 sack, during Sunday's 47-10 loss to the Saints. Leota notched the first sack of his young career during Sunday's blowout loss and was the only Panther to bring down Derek Carr. Carolina was searching for an edge rusher opposite Jadeveon Clowney while D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) remains on the PUP list, and Leota's performance in Week 1 likely gives him the edge over DJ Johnson. Leota could see more work in Week 2 after splitting first-team reps with Johnson on Sunday.
Leota finished Thursday's 17-3 preseason loss to the Patriots with three total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit. The Panthers have been looking for a serviceable edge defender to line up opposite of Jadeveon Clowney, and with D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) and Amare Barno (knee) both dealing with injuries, Leota made the most of his opportunities Thursday. The Auburn product played 31 total snaps (20 defensive and 11 on special teams) and head coach Dave Canales raved about his performance post-game, saying "the effort was there" and his "style of play was fantastic." Leota will likely continue battling with DJ Johnson for a depth role in the Panthers' outside linebacker corps as the preseason progresses.