On Tuesday, wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned to the Carolina Panthers—signing on as a member of their practice squad. And on Sunday, he could be suiting up—depending on the status of former first-round pick Xavier Legette.
Legette, who is dealing with knee soreness out of last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons, has been listed as questionable for this weekend's tilt against the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Legette's availability may be determined right before kickoff, and could lead the Panthers into elevating one of two receivers from the practice squad.
"We would definitely need . . . I wouldn't wanna go into a game with four [wide receivers]," Canales said on Friday. "So, we definitely need David [Moore]
or Ihmir to come up."
Smith-Marsette appeared in a career-high 17 games for Carolina in 2023. He recorded eight receptions for 51 yards and a league-leading 37 punt returns for 322 yards and a touchdown.
Moore, however, may be the likelier option. The 31-year-old veteran has been around for the last three seasons and can provide some extra help as a returner on special teams.
The Panthers have also listed Jalen Coker, their leading pass catcher heading into Week 3, as questionable for Sunday. Canales, however, seemed more positive about Coker's outlook for the contest.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Returning Panthers WR could make season debut in Week 3 vs. Browns
