The Carolina Panthers have expanded their practice squad to 15 players with the addition of quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Ainias Smith, leaving two spots open.
Hooker, who was drafted in the third round by the Detroit Lions after playing at Tennessee, joins as a third quarterback behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton. The move follows the team’s recent decisions to part ways with Jack Plummer and Bryce Perkins during roster cuts.
“Hendon Hooker is a guy that I loved in the process coming out of Tennessee, I had some great meetings with him,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday. “He really impressed me as a man, and a really high character guy with a lot of talent. A beautiful motion, big strapping guy who can run. . . .
“I am very grateful that we get a player who’s had professional training for a while now with certain protections and run game alerts and a lot of the different things that the offense that Detroit was able to build that I really admire, and to be able to bring a guy in who’s had exposure. The talent and the character that I’m excited about, I’m glad he’s going to be here.”
Smith was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Texas A&M. He started his rookie year on injured reserve but returned to play seven games, recording seven receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown.
On Wednesday, Carolina signed 13 other players who participated in training camp to their practice squad: linebacker Krys Barnes, cornerback Shemar Bartholomew, outside linebacker Boogie Basham, defensive end Jared Harrison-Hunte, offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston, linebacker Mapalo Mwansa, tight end Bryce Pierre, wide receiver Ja’seem Reed, cornerback Michael Reid, defensive tackle Sam Roberts, offensive tackle Michael Tarquin, safety Trevian Thomas, and offensive lineman Brandon Walton.
Mwansa joins under an exemption from the league’s International Player Pathway program and does not count against the regular 16-player limit.
Last season saw most members of Carolina’s practice squad appear in at least one game during Week 1.
