Running back Chuba Hubbard wasn’t the only Carolina Panthers player to have his season cut short on Saturday.
As announced by the team this afternoon, rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade has been placed on injured reserve—effectively ending his 2024 campaign. The rookie was already ruled out of tomorrow’s NFC South showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an illness and a chest injury.
Carolina selected Smith-Wade in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Washington State University standout went on to appear in 14 games, recording 39 total tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.
Smith-Wade had recently taken over as the defense’s primary nickel defender, getting starting nods in each of the past three outings.
He is now the third member of the Panthers’ 2024 draft class to be placed on season-ending injured reserve—joining second-round pick and running Jonathan Brooks as well as third-round pick and linebacker Trevin Wallace. Sixth-round defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy also missed the first 12 games of the year after starting the season on injured reserve.
