Tag: Eddy Pineiro

New Panthers STC Tracy Smith praises his unit’s toughness

Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith spoke about the toughness and spirit of his unit.

New Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Tracy Smith hasn’t been around his guys long, but he already knows what he’s got to work with.

Smith, while in the fourth day of the offseason workout program, spoke with reporters earlier this afternoon. He was asked how he thinks he can build around the core group of special teamers in his first season for Carolina.

“A really tough group,” Smith said in describing the players. “Physical, fast, tough group. Met ’em throughout this week. And guys that care about the game. I’ve known Johnny Hekker on and off for years and years. Had some nightmare plays against Johnny—like 2012-ish, or ’13. JJ [Jansen]—every year that I’ve been in, he’s been in. So have some relationship with those guys, also a little bit with Eddy [Piñeiro] as well.

“But this was not an underperforming group. This is a good group of guys. Expect them to keep their level of intensity and play the same. And the spirit from all of them has been great.”

Smith was hired back on Feb. 8. He comes in with 15 years of NFL experience—with stops for the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns, the San Francisco 49ers, the then-Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans.

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Chris Tabor recalls his most memorable moment of the season

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor recalled his favorite moment of the season on Monday.

Monday morning was a particularly hectic one for the Carolina Panthers  . . . or at least whoever’s left of them. But that didn’t prevent Chris Tabor from answering the tough questions.

In what was likely the last press conference as the team’s interim head coach, Tabor was asked about his most memorable moment from an otherwise forgettable 2023 season. His answer may not surprise you.

“Didn’t like the way we played in New Orleans,” he said of Carolina’s Week 14 loss to the Saints. “Wasn’t real happy after the game on that one. And then to be able to look those guys in the eye and say, ‘Guys, we’re gonna win this next game.'”

The next game he was referring to was their Week 15 clash with the Atlanta Falcons—one that, despite the less-than-stellar conditions, gave Tabor his first win at the helm.

“And go through that process the next week, and then you show up Sunday and it’s a rainstorm, windstorm, everything else is goin’,” he continued. “And it’s all we have. And we end up winnin’ the game. And to be able to celebrate in the locker room because we all did it together.”

That celebration came after a walk-off field goal from kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who had previously spent time with Tabor back in Chicago. Piñeiro’s game-winner, his second of the campaign, also resulted in his second NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor as a Panther.

So, as Tabor himself has stated: The room will change, but the memories won’t.

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Panthers Week 18 inactives: Jaycee Horn expected to play vs. Buccaneers

Jaycee Horn is up and expected to play in the Panthers’ regular-season finale.

If the Carolina Panthers need a third walk-off field goal to capture their third win of the 2023 campaign, it won’t be coming from the foot of Eddy Piñeiro.

As expected, Piñeiro (hamstring) will not play in today’s regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead, it’ll be kicker Matthew Wright, who signed to the team’s practice squad this past Tuesday, in uniform for the Panthers this afternoon.

Wright spent part of the summer with Carolina and kicked in all three preseason contests. Over his three-year NFL career, the 27-year old has booted through 40 of his 46 field goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra point tries.

Also up is cornerback Jaycee Horn, who did not play in last week’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being ruled as active. Per Joe Person of The Athletic, Horn—who has played in 21 of a possible 50 games since being drafted with the eighth overall pick in 2021—is expected to play.

Here’s who won’t be active for the Panthers to close out the season:

  • CB Shaquill Griffin
  • OLB Marquis Haynes Sr.
  • OT Ricky Lee
  • OT Ilm Manning
  • G Cade Mays
  • K Eddy Piñeiro
  • WR Mike Strachan

And as for the visiting Buccaneers:

  • LB K.J. Britt
  • WR Rakim Jarrett
  • OL Brandon Walton
  • OLB Markees Watts
  • QB John Wolford

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Panthers elevate Matthew Wright, Deonte Brown for Week 18

The Panthers have brought up K Matthew Wright and G Deonte Brown for their regular-season finale against the Bucs.

The Carolina Panthers probably won’t be ending their 2023 campaign with the same foot they started it with.

As expected, the team has elevated kicker Matthew Wright from the practice squad ahead of their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Darin Gantt of Panthers.com was first with the news on Saturday afternoon.

Carolina’s usual place kicker Eddy Piñeiro tweaked his hamstring during pre-game warmups of last week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Piñeiro, who did not appear in the 26-0 loss, has been ruled as doubtful for tomorrow.

Wright was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday. The 27-year-old spent part of the summer with the Panthers, having kicked in all three preseason outings while Piñeiro dealt with a groin strain.

Joining Wright on the game day roster will be guard Deonte Brown. Brown, a sixth-round pick by Carolina back in 2021, has appeared in three NFL games—all of which came during his rookie season.

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Panthers Week 18 injury report: Eddy Piñeiro doubtful vs. Buccaneers

The Panthers probably won’t have K Eddy Piñeiro for their season finale against the Bucs on Sunday.

When it comes to the kicker position, the Carolina Panthers are a bit unsteady heading into their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After missing last week’s 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Eddy Piñeiro has been listed as doubtful for Sunday. The 28-year-old injured his hamstring during pre-game warmups for the New Year’s Eve outing and did not enter the shutout defeat.

If he’s a no-go, Matthew Wright will be in his place. Wright, who kicked in three preseason games for the Panthers this summer, was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Here’s the full (and final) injury report of the campaign:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. Concussion DNP DNP DNP Out
P Johnny Hekker Personal DNP DNP
K Eddy Piñeiro Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Doubtful
RB Miles Sanders Illness DNP Full
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette Illness DNP Full Full –
WR DJ Chark Foot Limited Full Full –
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill Ankle Limited Limited Full –
CB Troy Hill Concussion Limited Limited Full –
CB Jaycee Horn Toe Limited Limited Full Questionable
G Cade Mays Finger Limited Limited Limited Doubtful
OLB Brian Burns Knee Full Full Full –
OT Taylor Moton Knee Full Full Full –
QB Bryce Young Back Full Full Full –
LB Tae Davis Illness DNP DNP Questionable

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4 Panthers do not participate in Thursday’s practice

Panthers K Eddy Piñeiro remained out of practice on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers got a bit healthier ahead of their regular-season finale.

Only four players were held out of practice on Thursday, including outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. The sixth-year defender remains in concussion protocol after a scary scene from the team’s Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Haynes Sr. was held back in Jacksonville for medical testing, but returned to Charlotte on Monday.

Also out was kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who sustained a hamstring injury prior to kickoff on New Year’s Eve. If Piñeiro is unable to suit up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the Panthers will likely roll with Matthew Wright—who was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Here’s the full injury report from this afternoon:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. Concussion DNP DNP
P Johnny Hekker Personal DNP DNP
K Eddy Piñeiro Hamstring DNP DNP
RB Miles Sanders Illness DNP Full
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette Illness DNP Full
WR DJ Chark Foot Limited Full
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill Ankle Limited Limited
CB Troy Hill Concussion Limited Limited
CB Jaycee Horn Toe Limited Limited
G Cade Mays Finger Limited Limited
OLB Brian Burns Knee Full Full
OT Taylor Moton Knee Full Full
QB Bryce Young Back Full Full
LB Tae Davis Illness DNP

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Panthers sign Matthew Wright to practice squad

With the status of Eddy Piñeiro still up in the air, the Panthers signed a familiar foot on Tuesday.

With the status of kicker Eddy Piñeiro still in doubt, the Carolina Panthers added a familiar foot.

As announced by the team on Tuesday, almost immediately after owner David Tepper was handed his $300,000 fine (interesting timing), kicker Matthew Wright has been signed to the practice squad. Wright spent part of the summer with the Panthers, appearing in all three preseason games before his release on Aug. 26.

The 27-year-old broke into the pros as undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. But it wouldn’t be until 2020, and after a short stint with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers, that the University of Central Florida product kicked in an official NFL game.

He since played three seasons in the league, also picking up stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and splitting his 2022 campaign between the Kansas City Chiefs and Steelers. Wright has converted on 40 of his 46 career field goal tries and 35 of his 37 extra point attempts.

The Panthers were without Piñeiro, who injured his hamstring during pre-game warmups this past Sunday, in their Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Bryce Young returns to game after getting lit up in scary scene

A crushing sack couldn’t keep Panthers QB Bryce Young out of Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.

The Carolina Panthers didn’t even have to begin their New Year’s Eve matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars to face adversity.

During pre-game warmups, kicker Eddy Piñeiro tweaked his hamstring—throwing his status into doubt and his team into a harsh domino effect. So since they didn’t have the option of a field goal available to them, the Panthers had to take a gung-ho approach—one that nearly cost them their starting quarterback on their very first possession.

Instead of the usual three-point try, Bryce Young and the Carolina offense had to go for the sticks on a fourth-and-7 from the Jacksonville 21-yard line. But the rookie passer ended up eating a punishing sack from Jaguars defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris.

Young remained on the ground, clutching his back in a pretty scary scene.

The 22-year-old, however, didn’t even miss a snap. Young, after getting some attention in the medical tent, was right back on the field to start the next drive.

He may only be 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds (on a very good day), but Young certainly isn’t lacking an ounce of toughness.

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Eddy Piñeiro named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Eddy Piñeiro’s heroic efforts from this past Sunday earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Steady Eddy’s walk-off field goal from this past Sunday helped earn more than a much-needed win for the Carolina Panthers.

Kicker Eddy Piñeiro has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his heroic efforts in Carolina’s 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The 28-year-old, who accounted for all nine of the Panthers’ points, was a perfect three-of-three on his field goal tries in a wet and windy Week 15. In addition to the game-clinching 23-yarder as time expired, he also nailed tries of 34 yards and 25 yards.

Sunday marked the second walk-off boot of the season for Piñeiro. His first came in Week 8, when he and the Panthers knocked off the visiting Houston Texans on another 23-yarder.

Piñeiro’s honor adds to what’s already been a solid 2023 campaign. He’s converted on 24 of his 28 field goal attempts and 16 of his 17 extra point tries.

He has now been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time in his career and for the second time as a Panther.

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