Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Former Panthers Christian McCaffrey and Harrison Butker were two of Super Bowl LVIII’s biggest stars.
The Carolina Panthers may have not been on the brightest stage in football, but a few old friends were.
Here’s how former Panthers players fared in Super Bowl LVIII:
Former Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey and coach Steve Wilks did all they could to bring the 49ers their first ring in 30 years. But it wasn’t enough.
Christian McCaffrey and Steve Wilks were on the doorstep of bringing the Bay Area their first Lombardi Trophy in 30 years. But unfortunately for them and the rest of the San Francisco 49ers, a GOAT was standing in their way.
Despite their valiant efforts, the former Carolina Panthers running back and interim head coach were denied on the biggest stage of the game Sunday night—as the Kansas City Chiefs notched a thrilling 25-22 overtime win in Super Bowl LVIII.
McCaffrey, who spent the better part of his first six NFL seasons in Carolina, tallied a game-high 160 yards from scrimmage. The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year recorded 80 yards on 22 rushes along with another 80 yards and a score on eight catches.
Wilks, a Charlotte, N.C. native, managed to hold down the Kansas City offense for much of the tightly-contested matchup—as the Chiefs entered the break with only three points. But, as we’ve learned for the third time in five years, there’s no holding down Patrick Mahomes.
The newly-crowned three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player led a game-winning 13-play, 75-yard drive in overtime—a walk-off possession that ended in a 3-yard touchdown pass to wideout Mecole Hardman. Mahomes finished the night having completed 34 of his 46 throws for 333 yards, two scores and an interception.
But hey, at least a few other old friends were on the winning side—including kicker Harrison Butker, whose 57-yard field goal in the third quarter set a new Super Bowl record. The Chiefs have also carried former Panthers receiver Shi Smith and cornerback Keith Taylor on their practice squad.
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Some familiar faces will be on the biggest stage in sports on Sunday.
Did you know that Super Bowl LVIII will include this year’s AP Offensive Player of the Year, the second-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history and a former third overall draft pick? Oh, and did you know that each of those individuals used to be members of the Carolina Panthers?
Let’s take a look at some familiar faces from the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.
Prior to signing Shi Smith to the practice squad, the Titans hosted Smith and three other WRs for a workout.
After an injury to wide receiver Kearis Jackson that led to his placement on injured reserve, the Tennessee Titans promoted fellow wide receiver Mason Kinsey from the practice squad to take his spot on the active roster.
That led to the team being one wide receiver shorter on the practice squad, with only 2023 undrafted free agent Tre’Shaun Harrison remaining at the position.
However, the Titans signed former Carolina Panthers sixth-round pick and wide receiver Shi Smith to the practice squad on Tuesday to fill the spot, one of five moves the team made.
Smith has appeared in 23 games (six starts) over his two-year career, catching 28 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns in that span.
The South Carolina product also has experience in the return game, fielding 23 punts for 143 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per, and he has one 24-yard kick return under his belt.
Prior to inking Smith, the Titans worked him and three other receivers out, including one familiar face. Here’s the list, according to the transactions wire:
Former Panthers sixth-round pick Shi Smith has signed on to the Titans’ practice squad.
Former Carolina Panthers wideout Shi Smith has found himself a new home.
Per Tuesday’s transaction wire, Smith has signed with the Tennessee Titans as part of their practice squad. The Union, S.C. native and University of South Carolina product had spent his entire NFL career (two seasons and a summer) with the Panthers.
Smith was one of a franchise-record 11 selections from the 2021 draft. The sixth-rounder went on to play in six games during his rookie campaign, reeling in six passes for 104 yards.
He found himself a more featured role in his sophomore season, appearing in all 17 games under both Matt Rhule and Steve Wilks. In addition to being the team’s primary punt returner, fielding 23 attempts for a 6.2-yard average, Smith recorded 22 receptions, 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The 24-year-old, who possesses upside on offense and as a special teamer, was one of Carolina’s most surprising cuts in the final move to their initial 53-man roster.
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The Titans announced five roster moves on Tuesday, including the promotion of OL Justin Murray to the active roster.
The Tennessee Titans announced five roster moves on Tuesday, one of which included the promotion of offensive lineman Justin Murray from the practice squad to the active roster.
Murray, who has experience playing guard and tackle, was with the Titans during the offseason but didn’t make the team after final cuts. After being released, Murray was brought back on the practice squad and has been elevated twice this year.
Along with the promotion of Murray to the active roster from the practice squad, the Titans also placed two players on injured reserve and signed two players to the practice squad.
Here’s a look at the other four moves, along with some information on each player.
The Browns hosted 6 for workouts yesterday.
As they do every week, the Cleveland Browns brought in six players for a workout on the heels of their Week 3 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. The headliners of this week’s batch of tryouts are tight end Devin Asiasi and wide receiver Shi Smith.
Asiasi, of course, is a former third round selection of the New England Patriots. He lasted less than two years in New England before he was released and signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Asiasi managed to rack up just five yards on two catches in 2022 for the Browns’ little brother.
Smith is the other interesting name, as a former sixth round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft of the Carolina Panthers after an illustrious career with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Appearing in all 17 games for the Panthers a year ago, Smith racked up 296 yards and two touchdowns on 22 catches.
Here is the full list of players the Browns had in for a workout on Friday as they look to continue to find bottom of the roster and practice squad-worthy players.
The Patriots, who nabbed Matt Corral on Thursday, seem to have their eyes on another former Panther.
Bill Belichick has his eyes on another recent Carolina Panthers draft pick.
Per the league’s transaction wire, the New England Patriots officially had wideout Shi Smith in for a workout on Friday. This interesting little development comes right after they claimed quarterback Matt Corral, whom the Panthers placed on waivers this past Wednesday.
Smith was one of three sixth-round picks by Carolina in 2021. He was also one of 11 total picks from that spring by former head coach Matt Rhule and company, who tied a franchise record for most selections in a class.
A Union, S.C. native, Smith attended the University of South Carolina from 2017 to 2020. There, he reeled in 174 passes for 2,204 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Over his two-year NFL career, the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder has recorded 400 receiving yards and a pair of scores on 28 receptions. He was Carolina’s primary punt returner during the 2022 campaign, fielding 23 tries for a total of 143 yards.
Smith was waived this past week in the team’s cutdown to its initial 53-man roster.
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The Panthers are continuing to purge Matt Rhule’s robust 2021 draft class—as they’ve waived Keith Taylor, Shi Smith and Deonte Brown.
The purge of Matt Rhule’s robust 2021 draft class continues.
As announced on Tuesday morning, the Carolina Panthers have waived three picks from 2021—cornerback Keith Taylor, wide receiver Shi Smith and guard Deonte Brown.
Taylor, perhaps the most surprising departure, was selected in the fifth round that spring. The University of Washington product went on to play a pretty decent role in Carolina’s secondary since, playing in 34 of a possible 35 games in the last two seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder recorded five starts over those 34 outings. He totaled 67 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and six passes defensed.
Smith, who also served as a depth piece for the Panthers, is another one of the more high-profile cuts of the morning. The Union, S.C. native and University of South Carolina product reeled in a combined 28 passes for 400 yards and a pair of scores over 23 games and fielded 23 punts in 2022.
Brown appeared in three games in 2021.
Only five of the class’ 11 players are currently active members of the roster.
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A number of recent draft picks are amongst the most intriguing players on the Panthers’ roster bubble.
With the NFL requiring that teams cut 37 players from their roster by Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers will face a series of tough decisions at multiple positions. And those tough decisions will involve quite a few intriguing talents.
Here are the four most interesting players fighting for the opportunity to stay on the roster:
