One of Tennessee football’s staples in the NFL in recent years is going to be looking for a new team. Shy Tuttle, a defensive tackle, was released by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter. Tuttle was with the Panthers since 2023.
Tuttle was entering his final year of his contract with Carolina. The Panthers signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract after his stint with the New Orleans Saints, which lasted four years. In 2024, Tuttle produced 46 tackles in 15 games. He didn’t record a sack, but did manage to force a fumble and recover a pair. In 2023, his first in Carolina, he notched 43 tackles in 17 games. This went with a half sack on the year.
Before his time in Carolina, Tuttle played four seasons with the Saints. He managed a pair of sacks in both his rookie year and final year with the team. Throughout the four seasons, he totaled 143 tackles. He also grabbed an interception that saw him stiff-arm Matt Ryan on the return as a rookie.
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Tuttle played for Tennessee from 2015-18. He initially joined the squad as a five-star recruit, according to 247. He went to North Davidson High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and was considerd the top player from the state. As a true freshman, he appeared in six games while making 10 tackles, recovering a fumble and blocking a kick. He broke his fibula against Georgia, though, and missed the remainder of the year.
As a sophomore, he played in seven games and started one. In this time, Tuttle managed nine tackles. Once again, an injury shut him down for the back half of the season, though.
In 2017 as a junior, Tuttle finally got some better injury luck. He played in 10 games while starting four. He posted 27 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss on the year.
Heading into his senior campaign, UT underwent a coaching change. Tuttle stuck around for the transition from Butch Jones to Jeremy Pruitt, and had a career year. He started in 12 games while notching 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries, one pick and two blocked kicks.
He would go undrafted in the following NFL draft, but was signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent.
