Ainias Smith - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Reaches injury settlement Smith (undisclosed) was waived from injured reserve by the Panthers with an injury settlement Thursday, Kassidy Hill of the team's official website reports.

Impact Smith reverted to injured reserve with Carolina on Wednesday, and as a result, he was set to miss the entirety of the 2026 campaign. Now that he has reached a settlement with the Panthers, he will be able to pass a physical and play with a new squad this season.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Bound for IR Smith (undisclosed) reverted from waivers to Carolina's injured reserve list Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Impact Smith passed through waivers after the Panthers cut him Tuesday, and now he's on track to spend the entire 2026 campaign on IR. His being sidelined could open up more opportunities for players like 2024 sixth-rounder Casey Washington and Ja'Seem Reed to make an impression during training camp.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Waived/injured by Carolina The Panthers waived/injured Smith (undisclosed) on Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Both Smith and Gabriel Benyard were let go Tuesday in moves that corresponded with the Panthers signing wideouts Roc Taylor and Elijah Cooks. Because Smith was cut with an injury designation, he would revert to the Panthers' injured reserve if he goes through waivers unclaimed. That would force the 2024 fifth-rounder to sit for the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Carolina.

AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE

Staying with Panthers Smith signed a reserve/future contract with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Smith appeared in seven regular-season games for the Eagles as a rookie, but the 2024 fifth-round draft pick was waived prior to the 2025 season and subsequently signed with Carolina's practice squad, where he spent the entire 2025 campaign. He will likely get a chance to compete for a roster spot with the Panthers in training camp in 2026.

JANUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Joins Carolina's practice squad The Panthers signed Smith to the practice squad, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Smith suited up for nine regular-season games with Philadelphia last year, after the team selected him in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He secured seven of nine targets for 41 yards and one score in that span, but after being waived by the Eagles on Tuesday he'll now need to establish himself in depth role for a new organization.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cut by Philly The Eagles waived Smith on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact Smith was a fifth-round pick out of Texas A&M last year and appeared in seven regular-season games as a rookie, catching seven of his nine targets for 41 yards and one touchdown. He produced a 6-40-2 receiving line on 86 offensive snaps this preseason. The Eagles will likely try to sneak Smith through waivers and onto the practice squad.

AUGUST 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hauls in TD in Saturday's loss Smith caught both his targets for 19 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 22-13 preseason loss to the Browns.

Impact The 2024 fifth-round pick connected with rookie QB Kyle McCord for a nine-yard score late in the second quarter, the Eagles' final points of the afternoon. Smith is in a dogfight with Terrace Marshall and Darius Cooper for the final one or two spots on the wideout depth chart, but it's not a role likely to have much fantasy value in an offense where touches are dominated by Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith.

AUGUST 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Browns-Eagles Stock Market: Cleveland Finishes Off A Productive Week With Preseason Win Over Eagles Rookie Drew Mukuba and second-year player Ainias Smith were among the Eagles' standouts in the team's preseason game against Cleveland.

AUGUST 16, 2025 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Highlight: Kyle McCord's first preseason TD comes on a slant to Ainias Smith Eagles rookie quarterback Kyle McCord fires a slant pass to wide receiver Ainias Smith for his first NFL preseason touchdown pass.

AUGUST 16, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Eagles' Ainias Smith making case as punt returner With Cooper DeJean getting an expanded role on defense and Britain Covey no longer on the roster, the Eagles have been looking for their nex...

AUGUST 12, 2025 • MCALL.COM

Michael Clay Press Conference: August 12, 2025 Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay discusses Ainias Smith's big punt return and gives his reaction to the 70-yard field goal from Jaguar...

AUGUST 12, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Highlight: Ainias Smith' 46-yard punt return ignites Eagles' crowd Wide receiver Ainias Smith returns a punt for 46 yards to set up an Eagles touchdown late in the first half.

AUGUST 8, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Highlight: Ainias Smith catches 6-yard TD vs. Bengals Ainias Smith catches a 6-yard touchdown vs. Bengals to give the Eagles the lead in the second quarter.

AUGUST 8, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Super Bowl champion Eagles' tush push play helps secure 34-27 preseason win over Bengals

Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and most of the starting lineup for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles took a night off

AUGUST 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Can't-Miss Play: Ainias Smith' 46-yard punt return ignites Eagles' crowd Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Ainias Smith returns a punt for 46 yards.

AUGUST 8, 2025 • NFL.COM

Eagles Training Camp Press Conferences: August 4, 2024 After Monday's practice, hear from the following players: Saquon Barkley, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (9:45), Cooper DeJean (16:39), Jihaad Campbel...

AUGUST 4, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Meritocracy Vs. Mulligan For Eagles' Second-Year Player The Eagles bet on Ainias Smith’s playmaking ability by keeping him as a rookie.

JUNE 26, 2025 • KANSASCITY.COM

Eagles Prospect Could Be Jalen Hurts Secret Weapon After a quiet rookie season, former Texas A&M standout Ainias Smith is primed to emerge as a dynamic playmaker in the Philadelphia Eagles’ e...

MAY 13, 2025 • THESTATE.COM

Inactive for divisional round Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's NFC divisional-round game against the Rams.

Impact Smith will be a healthy scratch for the second playoff game in a row. The rookie wideout caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown when the team rested its primary starters Week 18, but he was a non-factor on offense during his previous six appearances in the regular season. Smith will once again watch from the sideline while A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson and Parris Campbell fill out the Eagles' wide receiver corps.

JANUARY 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive for wild-card round Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's NFC wild-card game against the Packers.

Impact With the Eagles having nothing to play for in the regular-season finale against the Giants, Smith saw an expanded role on offense while A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith rested. Smith played a season-high 47 snaps on offense and finished with four catches (on six targets) for 35 yards and a touchdown in a 20-13 win. With higher stakes on the line Sunday, Smith will observe the game in street clothes while the Eagles go with a wide receiver corps of Brown, Smith, Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson and Parris Campbell.

JANUARY 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Snags first career TD Smith caught four of six targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-13 win over the Giants. He added four rushing yards on his only carry.

Impact The 2024 fifth-round pick saw a bigger role with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith getting rested ahead of the postseason, and the younger Smith took advantage by hauling in his first career TD to open the scoring on a 15-yard toss from Tanner McKee in the first quarter. Smith hadn't caught a pass since Week 10 prior to making a splash Sunday, and he should return to a depth role next weekend when the Eagles host the Packers in the wild-card round.

JANUARY 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Highlight: Ainias Smith catches first career TD vs. Giants, gives Eagles 7-0 lead Ainias Smith catches a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner McKee to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead on the game's opening drive. It wa...

JANUARY 5, 2025 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Active for NFL debut Smith (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.

Impact The rookie fifth-round pick was reinstated from injured reserve Saturday after sitting out the first seven weeks of the season, and he's ready to make his professional debut in Cincinnati. Smith is likely to see work on special teams while serving as a depth receiver behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson.

OCTOBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Eagles-Bengals inactives: Ainias Smith up for first time, Joe Burrow will be missing one of his star WRs The Eagles will get their first look at the rookie Smith, who was activated from injured reserve on Saturday.

OCTOBER 27, 2024 • NJ.COM

Eagles activate WR Ainias Smith off Injured Reserve The rookie fifth-round pick is on the active roster for the first time.

OCTOBER 26, 2024 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

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Super Bowl champion Eagles' tush push play helps secure 34-27 preseason win over Bengals