Blackshear returned three kickoffs for 81 yards and one punt for 13 yards during Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Chargers. Blackshear was able to suit for Sunday's affair despite missing practices earlier in the week due to personal reasons, and he impressed as Carolina's top return man. The 26-year-old's longest return went for 31 yard on a kickoff in the second quarter. Despite showing some juice in the return game, Blackshear didn't play a single offensive snap in Week 2 and appears to be an afterthought in Carolina's backfield.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Raheem Blackshear news
Team
Carolina Panthers
Birthdate
6/5/1998 (26)
Status
Active
HT/WT
5'9", 190 lbs
Birthplace
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Position
RB
College
Virginia Tech
Experience
3 seasons
Career History
Carolina Panthers
2022-Present
(3 seasons)
Buffalo Bills
2022-2022
(1 season)
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DraftKings points 1.8FanDuel Points 1.3ATT 1.0TD 0.0RUSH YDS 4.3LNG 2.3REC 1.0REC TD 0.0REC YDS 3.8AVG 3.8RAC 2.4CBSS fantasy points 0.8ESPN fantasy points 0.8Yahoo fantasy points 1.3
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Full season projectionsATT 21.2RUSH YDS 50.7LNG 10.0REC 15.0REC YDS 103.4AVG 6.9
Blackshear returned three kickoffs for 81 yards and one punt for 13 yards during Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Chargers. Blackshear was able to suit for Sunday's affair despite missing practices earlier in the week due to personal reasons, and he impressed as Carolina's top return man. The 26-year-old's longest return went for 31 yard on a kickoff in the second quarter. Despite showing some juice in the return game, Blackshear didn't play a single offensive snap in Week 2 and appears to be an afterthought in Carolina's backfield.
Blackshear (personal) is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. Blackshear missed practice Thursday and Friday due to a personal matter but will suit up Sunday. He operated exclusively on special teams in Week 1, posting 204 kick-return yards on eight tries.
Blackshear (personal) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Chargers. Blackshear missed both Thursday and Friday's practices due to a personal matter, but according to the Panthers' injury report, he's still got a chance to suit up Sunday. If the 26-year-old running back isn't able to play in Week 2, expect rookie Xavier Legette to assume Carolina's top kick and punt return duties, per Joe Person of The Athletic.
Blackshear is set to serve as the Panthers' top kick and punt returner after the team parted ways with Ihmir Smith-Marsette on Wednesday, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports. Smith-Marsette's waiving comes as a bit of a surprise, as the fourth-year wideout finished sixth in the NFL with 322 punt return yards last season. Nevertheless, Blackshear has amassed 943 kick return yards on 35 attempts across his two seasons in Carolina, and he's now expected to have the opportunity to return punts as well in 2024. The Panthers could also consider using David Moore as a return man at some point this season, per Reed, but it appears that it's Blackshear's job to lose at this point.
Blackshear signed his contract tender with the Panthers on Thursday, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today reports. Blackshear is officially sticking with Carolina on a one-year deal, after having begun the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent. The running back has mostly contributed on special teams and as a kick returner for the Panthers, but he figures to also help as a depth player behind Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders in 2024.
The Panthers tendered a contract to Blackshear on Monday. Blackshear was an exclusive rights free agent, so the Panthers secured his rights with this move. The running back played sparingly on offense in 2023 and accrued 91 scrimmage yards on 14 carries and six receptions, but Blackshear also served as the team's kickoff returner on special teams.