The Carolina Panthers have re-signed wide receiver Brenton Bersin, center Brian Folkerts and linebacker Ben Jacobs to one-year contracts, and running back Fozzy Whittaker to a two-year contract, the team announced Monday. Each of these players would have otherwise been potential exclusive rights designees at the start of the new NFL year on Tuesday, March 10.
In 2014, his first season with the team, Whittaker played in 10 regular season games with one start and rushed for 145 yards and one touchdown on 32 attempts, helping the Panthers finish seventh in the NFL in rushing. Whittaker posted five receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown, and averaged 23.8 yards on 11 kickoff returns for 262 yards. In the NFC Wild Card game vs. Arizona (1/3), he scored a 39-yard touchdown on a swing pass in the third quarter. Prior to joining the Panthers, Whittaker played for San Diego and Cleveland in 2013 and was a member of Arizona’s practice squad in 2012.
Bersin played in 15 regular season games with one start for Carolina in 2014, recording 13 catches for 151 yards and one touchdown. Bersin also contributed on special teams, returning 14 punts for 86 yards and seven kickoffs for 167 yards. He also saw action in two postseason games. A Charlotte, N.C., native, Bersin played collegiately at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., and was a member of the Panthers’ practice squad in 2013.
Folkerts played in all 16 regular season games for the Panthers in 2014, seeing action as a reserve center and guard, in goal-line packages and on special teams. He also played in two postseason games for the Panthers. For his career, Folkerts has played in 26 regular season games and three postseason games, all with Carolina (2013-14).
Jacobs led Carolina with nine special teams tackles in 2014 and added one tackle on defense. He saw action in all 16 regular season games and two postseason games. He joined the Panthers in 2013 when he was Inactive for one game in between two stints on the practice squad. Prior to joining Carolina, Jacobs spent time on Cleveland’s active roster and practice squad (2011-12) and Cincinnati’s practice squad (2012).
