Ainias Smith

Carolina placed Smith on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury and then released him via an injury settlement in August 2026, leaving him without a roster spot and his 2026 role entirely undetermined.

The injury that sent Smith to injured reserve and ultimately ended his Panthers tenure was never publicly disclosed, clouding evaluation of his medical risk for any club considering signing him.

Even in his fullest offensive samples Smith's target share and WOPR have sat near the bottom of any receiving corps, and he was buried behind Tetairoa McMillan, John Metchie, and a Round 3 rookie (Chris Brazzell) on Carolina's depth chart before his release.

Across his final three appearances of the 2025 season, Smith's target share, snap share, and even carry share climbed steadily, culminating in a double-digit fantasy outing in the season finale — a flash of gadget-piece upside if a new club gives him a real look.

Passing a physical as part of the settlement confirms Smith is healthy enough to sign immediately, letting him join a roster on his own timeline rather than sitting out the season on injured reserve.