The Carolina Panthers hold the first position on the NFL’s waiver wire this offseason, and they didn’t let safety Josh Thomas get past when the Arizona Cardinals waived him on Wednesday.

The former Montgomery Academy standout missed the Panthers’ offseason program, which ended on Wednesday. Carolina’s reporting dates for training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are July 22 for rookies and July 25 for veterans.

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Since entering the NFL from Appalachian State as an undrafted rookie in 2020, Thomas has been waived four times. The previous three times, he quickly was signed for a practice squad.

In three seasons, Thomas has played in four regular-season games – two for the Buffalo Bills in 2020 and two for the Cardinals in 2022 – and been on the field for 14 defensive snaps and 34 special-teams plays. Thomas spent the 2021 season on Buffalo’s practice squad without getting into a game.

At Montgomery Academy, Thomas received All-State recognition with the athlete designation in 2013 and at quarterback in 2014. The Eagles posted a 23-3 record across those two seasons.

As a four-year starter at quarterback, Thomas produced 5,190 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes, 4,224 rushing yards and 62 rushing TDs.

While Thomas regained an NFL roster position on Thursday, another former Montgomery high school star lost his.

The Los Angeles Rams waived safety Collin Duncan on Thursday. An undrafted rookie from Mississippi State, Duncan had been the only player from an Alabama high school or college on the Rams’ roster.

Duncan was an All-State defensive back at St. James School in 2018, when the Trojans posted a 10-2 record.

Duncan signed with Los Angeles on May 15.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.