How former Panthers fared in Super Bowl LVIII

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 on Super Bowl LVIII teams

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.

Former Panthers on this year’s Conference Championship teams

11 former Panthers are now members of this year’s Conference Championship teams.

Sunday’s Conference Championship Round will have a few familiar faces.

Here are the 11 former Carolina Panthers who are currently members of the 2023 season’s final four teams:

22 former Panthers on this year’s Divisional Round rosters

Here are 22 names from this weekend’s Divisional Round action that Panthers fans may recognize

While the Carolina Panthers are busy trying to find a new power duo, quite a few of their former players are right in the middle of playoff action.

Here are 22 ex-Panthers who are gearing up for this year’s Divisional Round games:

WR Willie Snead IV re-signs with 49ers

The #49ers re-signed WR Willie Snead IV.

The 49ers on Monday announced the re-signing of wide receiver Willie Snead IV to a one-year contract.

Snead spent last year with the 49ers, splitting time between the practice squad and the active roster. He spent four games up for the team and didn’t record a stat in 30 offensive snaps. He also played 38 special teams snaps.

It’s unlikely he cracks the Week 1 roster this season, but the 49ers desperately need some offseason depth at WR and Snead’s familiarity with the club should allow him to hit the ground running at offseason workouts and training camp.

In eight seasons Snead has played in 99 games with 48 starts. He has 279 career receptions for 3,431 yards and 16 touchdowns.

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49ers roster moves: DL Hassan Ridgeway to IR, CB Janoris Jenkins, WR Willie Snead IV elevated

The 49ers made a handful of roster moves ahead of their game vs. the Seahawks.

The 49ers on Thursday announced a few roster moves before their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

San Francisco placed defensive lineman Hassan Ridgeway on IR, and promoted DL Akeem Spence to the active roster to take his place. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins and wide receiver Willie Snead IV were both elevated for Thursday’s game.

Ridgeway suffered a pec injury against Miami in Week 13 and was expected to miss several weeks. Chances are his placement on IR will end his season since the 49ers’ final two IR return slots are expected to go to DL Javon Kinlaw and running back Elijah Mitchell.

Spence rejoined the 49ers’ practice squad shortly after he was released from the active roster ahead of the bye week. This will be his second stint on the active roster this season. He played in five games and recorded six tackles. Spence will give San Francisco some depth along the interior.

Jenkins will be making his debut for the 2022 season. The 10-year veteran started 13 games for the Titans last year and went unsigned this offseason. In 142 games with 138 starts, Jenkins has 27 interceptions and 124 pass breakups. His elevation could be an indication on the status of CB Ambry Thomas, who’s listed as questionable on the injury report.

Snead has been on the 49ers’ active roster two other times this season and saw action in two games. He didn’t record a stat in 26 offensive snaps. He’ll give some depth at WR with Deebo Samuel out, and he can play special teams as well.

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49ers release WR Willie Snead IV

The #49ers on Tuesday announced the release of WR Willie Snead IV, but his time in the Bay Area may not be done.

The 49ers on Tuesday announced the release of wide receiver Willie Snead IV, just one day after he was added to the active roster from the practice squad.

There are some technicalities here that come into play since he wasn’t a standard elevation. Players who were brought up with standard elevations (RB Tevin Coleman and WR Malik Turner) will revert back to the practice squad.

Snead was added to the active roster after LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s spot was vacated when he went on IR with a knee injury. The veteran WR could conceivably make his way back to San Francisco’s practice squad if the club wants him back and he elects to re-sign with them. Snead was one of two players (QB Brock Purdy) who didn’t play any snaps in the 49ers’ Monday night win over the Rams.

The release is a sign the 49ers should get a player back off IR this week, but it could also be an indicator the team is making a different addition to their roster, perhaps to help bolster their OL depth after injuries to offensive tackles Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz.

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49ers roster moves: 2 WRs, RB elevated for game vs. Rams

Tevin Coleman, Malik Turner and Willie Snead IV were all brought up off the #49ers practice squad for Monday’s game vs. the Rams.

With injuries hitting their roster hard, the 49ers made a handful of additions via their practice squad ahead of Monday night’s game against the Rams. They also placed linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on injured reserve with a knee injury.

San Francisco announced wide receivers Willie Snead IV and Malik Turner, along with running back Tevin Coleman were all elevated from the practice squad. It’ll be standard elevations for Coleman and Turner, they’ll revert back to the practice squad after the game.

Snead was officially added to the roster to replace the spot vacated by Al-Shaair going to IR. The LB is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks, so Snead will give the 49ers some WR depth in the meantime. He could play a role Monday with rookie Danny Gray sidelined by a hip injury.

Turner will provide special teams assistance thanks to a slew of injuries thinning out their special teams contributors.

Coleman could actually see some real action on offense depending on how head coach Kyle Shanahan feels about the readiness of veteran RB Marlon Mack and undrafted rookie Jordan Mason. Jeff Wilson Jr. shouldered a brunt of the running back load in Week 3 with Mason earning one carry. Mack didn’t make an appearance. WR Deebo Samuel will also contribute in the run game.

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49ers to elevate WR Willie Snead IV to active roster for MNF

The #49ers are elevating WR Willie Snead IV to the active roster for Monday night’s game.

The 49ers are adding some depth to their receiving corps for their Monday night showdown against the Rams.

With rookie WR Danny Gray listed as ‘doubtful’ with a hip injury, veteran receiver Willie Snead IV will be elevated to the active roster from the practice squad according to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson.

Snead was with the 49ers for a portion of the preseason and was let go as part of the cut down to 53 players. He signed with the practice squad and will now get a chance to contribute against the Rams.

He joins a receiving corps with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Ray-Ray McCloud.

Snead in 95 games across seven seasons has 279 catches, 3,431 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Monday night will be Snead’s first game since Week 15 of last season when he was with the Panthers.

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49ers shuffle practice squad after George Kittle groin injury

The 49ers shuffled up their practice squad on Wednesday.

The 49ers on Wednesday announced a couple of practice squad moves ahead of the start of their Week 1 on-field preparations. San Francisco added tight end Troy Fumagalli and wide receiver Connor Wedington to their practice squad, and released veteran WR Willie Snead IV in a corresponding move.

Fumagalli spent the preseason with the 49ers and gives them some in-house depth if they need it with George Kittle working through a groin injury that forced him to sit out Wednesday’s practice. San Francisco released Fumagalli at final roster cuts. He originally signed with the 49ers in May. In 19 career games with the Broncos and Patriots he has 14 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.

Wedington spent part of last season with the 49ers practice squad and signed a futures deal in late January. San Francisco waived him and he was quickly claimed by the Texans where he spent the offseason. He was an undrafted rookie with the Seahawks last year and hasn’t played in a regular season game.

The 49ers had to release Snead to stay at the 16-player practice squad threshold. They technically carry 17 on the practice squad roster though since offensive lineman Alfredo Gutierrez is exempt because he came to San Francisco via the NFL’s international pathway program. They now have a full practice squad roster and any new additions will need to come with a corresponding move.

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