Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Inactive for Monday Night Football
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Blackshear (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's matchup against the Saints, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Blackshear played exclusively on special teams during the season opener and won't suit up for Week 2. Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard are the only active running backs for Carolina on Monday, while Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Laviska Shenault will presumably have to split return duties.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Makes 53-man roster
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Blackshear is a part of the Panthers' initial 53-man roster following roster cuts Tuesday, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.
Blackshear joins Miles Sanders (groin) and Chuba Hubbard as the running backs to make the team, while Carolina moved on from Spencer Brown and Camerun Peoples. In three preseason appearances, Blackshear turned 12 carries into 42 yards and one touchdown while hauling in all three targets for six yards and returning one kickoff for 29 yards. There's an expectation that Sanders will be healthy for Week 1, so Blackshear may have to bide his time on special teams while waiting for an opportunity on offense behind Sanders and Hubbard.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Just three offensive touches
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Blackshear rushed once for two yards and caught both of his targets for four yards in Saturday's 27-0 preseason loss to the Jets. He also returned two kickoffs for 37 yards and one punt for 10 yards.
Blackshear is currently competing with Spencer Brown for Carolina's third-string running back job. Although Brown led the team with eight rushes for 34 yards compared to Blackshear's minimal offensive output, the latter's value on special teams could work to his advantage in making the 53-man roster.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Could see expanded offensive role
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Blackshear appears to be in line for an expanded offensive role under the Panthers' new coaching staff, reports Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.
Blackshear was singled out as an "under-the-radar" standout in spring practices by coach Frank Reich, according to Kaye. Signed by Carolina in September 2022 after he was cut by the Bills, Blackshear appeared in 13 games for the Panthers last season, rushing 23 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns in mop-up duties behind D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard. He also caught 10 balls for 93 yards, and serving as a pass-catching complement to Miles Sanders could be his primary ticket to playing time this season.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Completes first season
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Blackshear appeared in 13 games during the 2022 season, rushing 23 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns and catching 10 of 12 targets for 93 yards.
Blackshear also occasionally handled return duties, taking 19 kickoffs back for 513 yards and six punts for 55 yards. With his rookie campaign now complete, Blackshear will hope to make the Panthers' roster again next season and serve in a similar depth role.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Gets two touches
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Blackshear caught two of three targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 13-3 loss to the Ravens.
Blackshear played 11 offensive snaps but didn't get any carries behind D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard. He holds minimal value heading into Week 12's matchup versus the Broncos.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Gets six carries
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Blackshear rushed six times for 32 yards in Thursday night's 25-15 win over the Falcons.
Blackshear ranked third among Carolina's tailbacks in snaps but garnered one more carry than backup Chuba Hubbard. Although Hubbard returning from an ankle injury gives the Panthers more quality depth behind starter D'Onta Foreman -- who rushed 31 times for 130 yards and a touchdown Thursday -- Blackshear remaining in the rotation helps preserve a bit of fantasy value.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Scores first touchdown
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Blackshear rushed five times for 13 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Bengals. He also caught all four of his targets for 40 yards.
Blackshear, a rookie from Virginia Tech, scored the first touchdown of his career with a two-yard rush late in the fourth quarter. Although the blowout nature of Sunday's game resulted in Blackshear getting more involved, it was nonetheless his best performance as a pro. In playing four more offensive snaps than fellow tailback Spencer Brown, Blackshear's usage could be interesting to monitor in Week 10's Thursday night game versus the Falcons, when Chuba Hubbard (ankle) may remain sidelined behind starter D'Onta Foreman.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Only two carries
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Blackshear rushed two times for one yard in Sunday's 37-34 overtime loss to the Falcons.
Blackshear played only nine offensive snaps, featuring for less than both starter D'Onta Foreman and practice-squad call up Spencer Brown. Although Brown reverted back to the practice team Monday, his six carries for 27 yards could make him Carolina's preferred backup for Foreman should Chuba Hubbard (ankle) remain sidelined for Week 9's game versus the Bengals.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Gets first carries
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Blackshear lost five yards on his two carries in Sunday's 21-3 win over the Buccaneers.
Blackshear was handed the first touches of his NFL career after the Panthers traded star tailback Christian McCaffrey late last week. While D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard split most of the backfield workload in the wake of McCaffrey's departure, Blackshear got involved for a little bit during the second half Sunday, when Hubbard exited due to an ankle injury. Should Hubbard be slowed ahead of Week 8's matchup versus the Buccaneers, Blackshear could get more reps than usual, but his fantasy stock is otherwise rather restricted.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Could have role on O moving forward
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Blackshear is likely to see more touches on offense in the aftermath of Christian McCaffrey being traded to San Francisco, Ellis Williams of the Charlotte Observer reports.
D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard may not be the only beneficiaries of the star running back's departure. Williams believes Blackshear will be used as a receiving threat out of the backfield. The former Bills practice squad member has showcased the ability to make people miss in the open field as a return man on special teams.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Will sit Sunday
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Blackshear (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Saints, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
Blackshear was signed off the Bills' practice squad Wednesday. What role he may ultimately earn with the Panthers remains to be seen, however the rookie will sit for his first game with the team.
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Panthers' Raheem Blackshear: Joins Carolina's active roster
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The Panthers signed Blackshear to their active roster off the Bills' practice squad Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reprots.
Blackshear had a strong preseason with the Bills after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech and landed a practice-squad deal with Buffalo after being waived ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. The Panthers' haven't released their official Wednesday injury report yet, but it appears their running back room is healthy, suggesting Blackshear will likely operate on special teams.
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Raheem Blackshear: Stays in Buffalo
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Blackshear was signed to the practice squad Wednesday, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
Blackshear had such a strong preseason after being snagged as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech that the Bills are probably glad he didn't land a spot elsewhere. It's a crowded running back room in Buffalo; however, given that Taiwan Jones is almost exclusively special teams, Blackshear can currently be considered the No. 4 or No. 5 fantasy option (Duke Johnson was also signed to the practice squad) even though he's on the practice squad to start his NFL career.
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Raheem Blackshear: Waived by Buffalo
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The Bills are waiving Blackshear, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The undrafted rookie out of Virginia Tech could get a look elsewhere or on Buffalo's practice squad after piling up 209 scrimmage yards and two TDs in three preseason games. The Bills don't have room on their roster with Devin Singletary, James Cook and Zack Moss all making it through the preseason healthy.
