Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Back with Carolina
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The Panthers re-signed Smith-Marsette to a one-year contract Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith-Marsette wasn't tendered by the Panthers as a restricted free agent last week, but he's coming back to the team at a lower salary than the low tender. Across 17 games last season, Smith-Marsette recorded eight catches for 51 scoreless yards and returned an NFL-high 37 punts for 322 yards and one touchdown.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Won't be tendered
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The Panthers chose to not tender Smith-Marsette on Friday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Smith-Marsette could be on the move this offseason after the Panthers decided not to tender him Friday. The 24-year-old wideout primarily served as the Panthers' top punt returner last season, recording 322 return yards (including a 79-yard touchdown). Despite Carolina not tendering the restricted free agent, the team would like to re-sign Smith-Marsette this offseason, according to Person.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Flashes to finish season
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Smith-Marsette finished the regular season with eight catches on 10 targets for 51 yards and eight rushes for 74 yards and a touchdown in 17 games. He also returned 37 punts for 322 yards and another score.
Smith-Marsette handled punt-return duties throughout the season and saw his offensive role expand after Laviska Shenault (ankle) was injured in November. Although he produced some good moments on gadget plays, it remains to be seen whether Carolina's new front office will look to retain Smith-Marsette as a restricted free agent this offseason.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Sidelined by illness Wednesday
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Smith-Marsette (illness) didn't practice Wednesday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Both Smith-Marsette and running back Miles Sanders were sidelined Wednesday due to illnesses, so a bug could be making its way around the Carolina locker room. Smith-Marsette has taken on a larger role in recent weeks with Jonathan Mingo (foot) on injured reserve, averaging 31.7 scrimmage yards in the last three games. The third-year wideout from Iowa will try to close out his season on a high note Sunday against the Buccaneers, but he'll first have to recover from his illness.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Garners four touches
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Smith-Marsette caught all three of his targets for 12 yards and rushed once for zero yards in Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jaguars.
Smith-Marsette's reception tally marked a season high, yet unlike the past couple weeks, he failed to contribute any pop from his gadget role. Nonetheless, given his increased involvement over the last handful of games, Smith-Marsette could be utilized similarly in Sunday's season finale versus the Buccaneers.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Hits paydirt against Packers
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Smith-Marsette caught his lone target for 18 yards and rushed twice for 33 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-30 loss to the Packers.
Smith-Marsette found the end zone for the first time this season, scoring on a 20-yard run in the second quarter. For the second straight week, the 24-year-old wideout did most of his damage on the ground. Despite his versatile skill set, Smith-Marsette's fantasy value is limited in the Carolina's struggling offense. The veteran will look to continue his increased involvement heading into a matchup with Jaguars in Week 17.
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Panthers' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Extra involvement Sunday
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Smith-Marsette caught both of his targets for one yard and rushed four times for 31 yards in Sunday's 9-7 win over the Falcons. He also muffed a punt but recovered it himself.
Smith-Marsette was used more as a gadget player Sunday, helping a poor Panthers offense move the ball through his involvement as a runner. As a result, his value should receive a slight uptick ahead of Week 16's game versus the Packers.
Smith-Marsette played 12 of the Panthers' 72 snaps on offense and went without a target in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Buccaneers.
Since being acquired from the Chiefs shortly before Week 1, Smith-Marsette has suited up in all 12 of the Panthers' games while serving as the team's top punt returner. Though most of the value he provides to Carolina comes through his contributions on special teams, Smith-Marsette has started to see a slight uptick in playing time on offense at receiver while the Panthers have made Terrace Marshall a healthy inactive the past three weeks. The 12 snaps Smith-Marsette picked up Sunday represented a season-high total.
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Chiefs' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Sticks with Chiefs
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Kansas City signed Smith-Marsette to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Smith-Marsette suited up for two regular-season games with the Chiefs this season in addition to spending time on the team's practice squad. He wasn't targeted in those contests, playing just 12 offensive snaps and one snap on special teams. The 2021 fifth-round pick will get a chance to continue his development this offseason.
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Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Moves back to practice squad
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Smith-Marsette reverted to Kansas City's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Smith-Marsette was elevated ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game, marking his third promotion since joining Kansas City's practice squad Oct. 21. However, unlike his previous two appearances, the 6-foot-1 wideout was ruled inactive pregame along with active-roster pass catcher Justin Watson (illness). Regular wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) all exited at different points during this win versus Cincinnati. Therefore, if Smith-Marsette is elevated again for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 12, he could have a better chance to be deemed active in the Chiefs' banged-up receiving corps.
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Chiefs' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Up on roster again
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Smith-Marsette was elevated to the active roster Saturday.
Smith-Marsette will make his third appearance on the Chiefs' active roster, but he's yet to garner a target across 12 offensive snaps. Expect a similar course of action with Mecole Hardman (pelvis) trending toward playing Sunday.
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Chiefs' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Elevated to active roster
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Kansas City elevated Smith-Marsette to its active roster from the practice squad Friday for Saturday's matchup against Las Vegas, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
With Skyy Moore (hand) out and Mecole Hardman (pelvis) questionable, Smith-Marsette has been added to the active roster as insurance. In his lone appearance with Kansas City (Week 14), Smith-Marsette played three offensive snaps but didn't see any targets.
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Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Inked to practice squad by KC
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The Chiefs signed Smith-Marsette to their practice squad Friday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.
Smith-Marsette was waived by the Bears on Tuesday after totaling one catch on four targets for 15 yards through six games. Kansas City unquestionably has a more potent passing attack, but Smith-Marsette isn't likely to ascend far enough up the receiver depth chart to be an impactful fantasy asset, if he's able to make the active roster at all. The Chiefs may see more value in him as a kick returner, as he has both college and NFL experience in that role.
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Bears' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Targeted once in defeat
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Smith-Marsette lost one yard on one rushing attempt and failed to catch his only target in the Bears' 12-7 loss to the Commanders on Thursday.
Smith-Marsette was targeted on a key fourth down while the Bears were trying to drive for a go-ahead score, but the pass went through his hands. He was on the field for 35 percent of the snaps, so his role in the offense is growing, but unless his targets increase significantly, he'll be a non-factor in fantasy.
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Bears' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Claimed by Bears
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The Bears have claimed Smith-Marsette off waivers from the Vikings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 2021 fifth-rounder was the odd man out in the Vikings' wideout corps as Week 1 approached, but Smith-Marsette now will add depth to a Chicago wide receiver group that profiles as a work in progress, currently led by top option Darnell Mooney.
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Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Cut by Vikes
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The Vikings waived Smith-Marsette on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
A 2021 fifth-round pick, Smith found it difficult to make inroads in a receiving corps led by Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn as a rookie last season. Smith likely was destined for work on special teams again in 2022, but his performances on that front during exhibition season weren't encouraging. Across three games, he recorded five punt returns for 40 yards (8.0 average) and three kick returns for 55 yards (18.3 average). With Minnesota landing Jalen Reagor via trade Wednesday, Smith-Marsette was deemed expendable by the team. If Smith-Marsette passes through waivers unclaimed, he'll be a candidate to be signed to Minnesota's practice squad.
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Vikings' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Healthy for camp
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Coach Kevin O'Connell said Smith-Marsette (leg) is "looking great" and should be a full-go for the start of training camp, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The 2021 fifth-round pick missed some practice time this spring with a lower-leg injury that seems to have been minor. He saw only six targets as a rookie while K.J. Osborn emerged as the No. 3 receiver, but Smith-Marsette did flash some promise at the end of the season with three catches for 103 yards and a TD in Week 18. He'll compete for the Vikings' No. 4 spot at wide receiver, challenged by Bisi Johnson, Albert Wilson, Dan Chisena and sixth-round rookie Jalen Nailor.
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Vikings' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Sits out Week 6
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Smith-Marsette was inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Panthers, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official website reports.
Smith-Marsette was dealing with a toe injury throughout the week, but he was able to log full practices Thursday and Friday before being ruled inactive for Week 6. The 22-year-old wideout should be ready to go when the Vikings return from their bye for a matchup with the Cowboys on Oct. 31.
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Vikings' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Practices with limitations
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Smith-Marsette (toe) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.
Smith-Marsette has been unavailable the past two games due to the toe injury, so it's a good sign to see him back at practice. The rookie fifth-round pick could avoid an injury designation for Sunday at Carolina if he can practice without limitations within the next couple days.
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Vikings' Ihmir Smith-Marsette: Remains out against Lions
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Smith-Marsette (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Smith-Marsette will sit out for a second consecutive game due to this toe injury. The rookie fifth-round pick will set his sights on healing up in time to rejoin his teammates on the field against the Panthers in Week 6.
