Carolina Panthers add two players to COVID-19 list, including a starter

Ahead of their final game of the season, the Carolina Panthers have added cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Shi Smith to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Gilmore, typically one of Carolina’s starting cornerbacks, is dealing with a groin injury and did not practice on Wednesday. He missed last weekend’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Now he isn’t out there for a second reason. The veteran will be a free agent at the conclusion of this season, meaning he may have played his final game in baby blue.

In seven games this year, Gilmore has 16 tackles and a tackle for loss. He recently had surgery to repair a torn quad that occurred while he was with the New England Patriots late in the 2020 season. He was traded to Carolina on Oct. 6.

Smith also went to South Carolina, and he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has six catches for 104 yards in his rookie season, and he had a career high five targets on Dec. 26 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Fellow wideout Robby Anderson did not practice for the Panthers on Wednesday as he deals with a quad injury. Safety Sean Chandler was in the same situation for a groin injury, while defensive end Yetur-Gross Matos was out due to illness. The full Wednesday injury report for the Panthers can be found here.

Carolina closes the year with Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers won the first matchup 32-6, and their offense continues to be the best, statistically, the NFL.

The Buccaneers have a massive list of players battling injury as of Wednesday, including star receiver Mike Evans. Evans is quickly becoming one of the few remaining weapons for Brady after the surprising departure of Antonio Brown this week. Brown was formally released from the team on Thursday.