HEADLINES

Terrace Marshall

WR Notes: Watson, Metchie, Chark, McLaurin, Smith-Njigba

September 8th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Jordan Love‘s tenure as the Packers‘ full-time starting quarterback will have a bit of a hurdle to navigate this week. In his first start since November 2021, Love will be without the team’s top returning receiver Christian Watson, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury that could potentially lead to an extended absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur claimed that he doesn’t think Watson will reach a three- or four-week absence but classified the second-year wideout as week-to-week.

The top target in Watson’s absence, fellow sophomore receiver Romeo Doubs, is also dealing with a hamstring injury but is only listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Rookie wideout Dontayvion Wicks is the third such receiver on the team dealing with a hamstring injury, but he managed to avoid the injury report altogether. Star tackle David Bakhtiari is also available after staying off the injury report.

Here are a few more reports on wide receiver injuries from around the league heading into Week 1:

  • The world will have to continue to wait for the NFL debut of Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Despite making a recovery from both a torn ACL and leukemia, Metchie is still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. Houston is being patient, taking a “big-picture approach” to Metchie’s return. The team will be without safety Jimmie Ward and linebacker Blake Cashman for Week 1, as well.
  • The Panthers are slowly working their way back to full health in their receiving corps, according to Panthers writer Augusta Stone. Back ups Terrace Marshall and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are now fully participating in practice after recent injury trouble. Starters Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark Jr. both returned to practice today in a limited capacity. While Thielen was listed as questionable and could still play, Chark has been ruled out for the team’s season opener.
  • The Commanders drew lots of criticism when leading receiver Terry McLaurin sustained an injury as the team played its starters fairly deep into a preseason game in an effort to end the Ravens’ preseason win streak. They’ll dodge a bullet, though, as McLaurin will be active this week after making good progress from his turf toe injury, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby. He’s had a couple of full participation practices and should be good to go for Week 1. Defensive end Chase Young has been listed as questionable, though. Head coach Ron Rivera claimed that “if (Young’s) cleared, he’ll go.”
  • Despite undergoing wrist surgery just two and a half weeks ago, Seahawks rookie first round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to play in the team’s season opener against the Rams this Sunday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll, who was optimistic on the recovery timeline, confirmed as much this week.

Latest On Terrace Marshall, Panthers’ WR Room

July 4th, 2023 at 6:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ offense will look far different at the start of the 2023 season than it did at the conclusion of the previous campaign. Part of the reason for that is the changes made to the top of the team’s wide receiver depth chart.

D.J. Moore was a critical part of the package Carolina sent to the Bears for the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, a move which led to the arrival of quarterback Bryce Young but created a signficant vacancy at the WR spot. The Panthers responded by making pass-catching additions both in free agency and the draft.

In the span of a few days, veterans Adam Thielen and DJ Chark were inked to three- and one-year contracts, respectively. The veteran tandem will give Young an experienced set of targets in his rookie season, but Carolina also used a second-round pick on Jonathan Mingo. With those additions, questions were naturally raised regarding the future of incumbent Terrace Marshall.

The 2021 second-rounder played sparingly under ex-head coach Matt Rhule, putting up underwhelming numbers along the way. Rhule’s replacement with Steve Wilks opened the door to an increased workload, though, and Marshall totaled 490 yards and one touchdown on an average of 17.5 yards per reception in 2022. He managed to carry that success over into spring practices, and The Athletic’s Joe Person notes that the LSU alum has earned himself a secure roster spot for this season (subscription required) .

The 6-2, 200-pound Marshall demonstrated notable deep-threat and red zone abilities during his final two seasons in college and came to Carolina with considerable expectations. His 76% snap share last season demonstrated his ability to produce while handling a starter’s workload, though that figure could be under serious threat of dropping given the new faces in the team’s WR room. Still, the fact that his short-term future is assured should allow him to at least play a signficant rotational role for Carolina’s new-look offense.

A step forward in production from Marshall would help the Panthers improve on their 29th-place finish in passing yards from last season, but it would also serve him well heading into the first offseason in which he will be eligible for an extension. His performances in training camp and the preseason will be pivotal in determining where he stands in the receiver pecking order as he aims to make himself a long-term fixture for the team.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/22

January 5th, 2022 at 5:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears 

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Panthers, Terrace Marshall Agree To Deal

June 17th, 2021 at 8:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have agreed to terms with second-round pick Terrace Marshall. The wide receiver will play on a four-year deal worth $5.7MM, per the terms of his slot at No. 59.

After trading down twice in Round 2, the Panthers planned to select BYU tackle Brady Christensen and add LSU wideout Terrace Marshall Jr. with a subsequent trade-up shortly after. However, they changed course after hearing the Saints’ footsteps. Unwilling to let him get away, the Panthers leapfrogged their rivals and reunited Marshall with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. It all worked out for the Panthers, who still managed to take Christensen in the third round.

Marshall played a key role for LSU’s national championship team alongside Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. He totaled 23 touchdown grabs between 2019 and 2020, a promising sign of what’s to come.

“Not too many people are 6-2, 200-plus and run a 4.3, and are able to make plays on the ball like Terrace does,” Brady said earlier this year. “When the ball’s in the air, Terrace always finds a way to come down with it, and I think he showcased that every time he was on the football field. Not a lot of games but a lot of production.”

Now, he’ll play alongside Panthers vets D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson, helping to replace ex-WR2 Emmanuel Sanders. Christensen and third-round tight end Tommy Tremble now stand as the Panthers’ last stragglers.