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Efe Obada staying with the Panthers in 2018

By Brandon Scott

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 04: A general view of the Carolina Panthers practice facility outside Bank of America Stadium as the NFL lockout looms on March 4, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 04: A general view of the Carolina Panthers practice facility outside Bank of America Stadium as the NFL lockout looms on March 4, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Carolina Panthers practice squad member Efe Obada will return for the 2018 season…

The NFL has been increasing their relevance on an international scale for the past few seasons. In addition to adding multiple games in Europe, the league has also recently extended opportunities for participation to various international born players, similar to Efe Obada who joined the Carolina Panthers last year via the new International Player Pathway Program.

Last season, the NFC South division was granted an additional practice squad position for one such player. The spot would be available for an entire season but whomever was selected could not be promoted to the active roster.

Obada, a defensive end, was originally signed to the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 as a free agent. He participated in preseason games and for a part of the season as a member of the practice squad before being released. Since, he earned time with two other NFL franchises before being awarded this opportunity with Carolina and the NFL prior to the 2017 season.

His development should continue learning alongside future Hall of Fame member, Julius Peppers, and gaining instruction from new defensive coordinator Eric Washington, his former position coach.

In addition to the four players who were selected last season as additional members for each of the NFC South practice squad teams, the NFL expanded the program this year. In a random draw, the AFC North was selected as the division to carry an extra overseas player on their practice squad this season.

Following are each of the players who have been named for participation in this program.

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NEW:

CHRISTOPHER EZEALA, FB (Germany) – Baltimore Ravens
MORITZ BÖHRINGER, TE/WR (Germany) – Cincinnati Bengals
TIGIE SANKOH, DB (UK) – Cleveland Browns
CHRISTIAN SCOTLAND-WILLIAMSON, TE (UK) – Pittsburgh Steelers​

RETURNING:

ALEX GRAY, TE (UK) – Atlanta Falcons
EFE OBADA, DE (UK) – Carolina Panthers
ALEX JENKINS, DE (UK) – New Orleans Saints
ERIC NZEOCHA, LB (Germany) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Next: Rookie Jersey Numbers Announced

Full press release available from the NFL here.

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