Panthers Injury Report & Transactions – Week 3

The Carolina Panthers front office is busy throughout the season with transactions, roster moves, and injury updates. Here's what's happening at Mint Street this week.

As the Panthers look to go 2-1 on the season as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns , health is going to play a major factor. Here's the summary for Sunday:

Out: Linebacker Devin Lloyd , linebacker Claudin Cherelus , safety Nick Scott

Questionable: Wide receivers Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette

Now, the good news on Coker and Legette is they were both limited participants in Friday's practice. Here's to hoping both of the Panthers' young wide receivers can see the field on Sunday. But the three defensive players who are out for Sunday is going to make things very, very hard on that side of the ball. Losing Devin Lloyd, in particular, is a massive loss.

The Panthers have been active on the transactions front this week. Here are the most noteworthy moves.

Placed running back Jonathon Brooks on Injured Reserve

The injury-prone young running back just can't catch a break when it comes to his health. The 2024 second round pick will miss at least six weeks after having surgery to repair a core muscle. He has appeared in just five games over three seasons.

Signed safety Isaiah Simmons to the active roster from the practice squad

Originally the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft, he spent his first three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and racked up 258 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. But Simmons was a "tweener" and when the Cardinals hired a new coaching staff, they didn't view him as a fit at either linebacker or safety. He was traded to the New York Giants in 2023 and had 71 tackles over two seasons as an occasional fill-in starter.

Last year he was signed to the Panthers practice squad then appeared in five games for Carolina in 2025 with two tackles. He played one defensive snap and 87 on special teams.

He continues to yo-yo between the Panthers practice squad and active roster this year. In 2026 he has appeared in both of Carolina's games, playing five defensive snaps and 49 on special teams.

Signed wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the practice squad

Smith-Marsette's name probably rings a bell for some Panthers fans. He spent the 2023 season in Carolina and was the team's primary punt returner, averaging 8.7 yards per return and taking one to the house. He also contributed eight receptions for 51 yards plus eight carries for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Smith-Marsette was a fifth-round pick by the Vikings in 2021 and has bounced around several teams. In 2024 he was the Giants' punt returner and also returned 11 kickoffs, including taking one back for a touchdown. The Giants released him during final roster cuts in 2025 and he didn't latch on with any other team last year.

He gives the Panthers another potential option in the return game following the recent release of Jimmy Horn Jr.

Signed linebacker Maema Njongmeta to the practice squad

Njongmeta began his career in 2024 as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals and had 13 tackles and two fumble recoveries in 17 games, playing mostly special teams. Last year the Panthers claimed him off the Bengals' practice squad and he appeared in 15 games for Carolina in 2025 with 10 tackles as a special teams mainstay. This year he was waived at final roster cuts, but the Panthers have now added him back to the practice squad.