Panthers clear roster space after injury settlements for Saahdiq Charles and Ainias Smith

The Carolina Panthers announced roster moves tied to injuries on Thursday, releasing guard Saahdiq Charles and waiving wide receiver Ainias Smith with injury settlements. The transactions remove both players from the team’s immediate active group and, in practice, can help the Panthers manage their roster as the preseason portion of the NFL calendar continues.

Charles’ release was connected to an injury placement that began Wednesday, when he went on injured reserve with a calf injury. With that designation completed, the injury settlement process allowed Carolina to close the chapter on his time with the club for now, opening a spot for other personnel decisions.

One of those options is an offensive line return. According to the team’s announcement relayed by Yahoo Sports, the move created room for the return of offensive lineman Jake Curhan. For an NFL roster built around daily readiness during training camp, even a single opening can influence how the coaching staff structures practice reps and depth behind the starters.

Carolina’s procedural handling also involved Ainias Smith, who was waived with an injury settlement. While the Panthers did not outline additional specifics in the account describing the move, the settlement indicates the team and player agreed to an injury-related resolution rather than keeping him on the standard roster track.

In the NFL, injury settlements are often used to resolve situations when a player can’t immediately contribute but the team prefers not to occupy a roster spot longer than necessary. The net effect is a roster that can stay more flexible, particularly along the lines where multiple injuries can quickly alter depth charts and matchups in preseason work.

For the Panthers, the immediate watch item is how they fill the gaps in guard and wide receiver depth after these moves. Curhan’s return adds a new variable for the offensive line rotation, while Smith’s departure changes the group of players available at wide receiver during the next practice week and any upcoming exhibition game work.

Whether Charles and Smith find new opportunities elsewhere will likely depend on their health progression after the settlement, and the Panthers will continue to evaluate whether additional internal options can cover the roles they vacated. For now, the team is using roster mechanics to stay agile as it trims and reshapes its training-camp roster.