The Panthers made a move that brings some serious special teams pop back into the fold, signing wide receiver and returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette to their practice squad on Tuesday afternoon. It’s a return to Carolina for the veteran, who was previously with the team in 2023.
A Journeyed Returner’s Path
Smith-Marsette’s been around the block, for sure. He kicked off this summer with the Cardinals, but got released from their practice squad earlier this month. Before that, he spent the last two seasons with the Giants, although he never got off their practice squad last year in 2025. Still, he was their lead returner back in the 2024 season, which tells you something about his impact. You can also trace his career back to stints with the Chiefs, Bears, and Vikings. This dude has seen some locker rooms across the league.
Why This Move Matters for Carolina
Look, a practice squad signing usually isn’t headline news, but Smith-Marsette brings a specific, explosive skillset. We’re talking about a guy who actually returned a punt for a touchdown during his *first* run with the Panthers. Yeah, a punt for six points! He also had a kickoff return score while he was with the Giants. Those aren’t flukes. His career averages back it up too: 8.3 yards per punt return and a ridiculous 30.1 yards per kickoff return. While his receiving numbers are modest at 14 catches for 182 yards, his value here is clearly in special teams.
Getting a player with that kind of proven big-play ability on the practice squad is a low-risk, high-reward situation. It gives the Panthers depth and a potential game-changer lurking if they need to call him up. Keep an eye on Smith-Marsette, because if he gets a shot, he could absolutely flip field position and spark some serious energy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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