The Carolina Panthers moved quickly to reinforce their wide receiver group on Thursday, signing undrafted rookie Gabriel Benyard one day after third-round pick Chris Brazzell II suffered a left knee injury that forced him out of practice.
To open a roster spot, the team waived undrafted defensive tackle Parker Peterson. Benyard’s arrival marked the second receiver addition in as many days, following the earlier signing of former Atlanta Falcons wideout Casey Washington.
The transactions arrived as Carolina’s available depth at the position began to thin. On Wednesday, the club placed Dan Chisena on injured reserve, and later that same day Brazzell went down during a 7-on-7 period.
According to the team, the 6-foot-4 Tennessee product stopped in the middle of a play, lowered himself to the ground and required assistance leaving the field.
He put no weight on his left foot before being carted inside. Head coach Dave Canales said Brazzell would undergo a full evaluation; no official diagnosis or timeline had been released by the time Benyard’s signing was announced.
Brazzell had already missed two practices with what Canales previously described as soreness in the same knee. The rookie returned to the field Wednesday only to leave early again.
Entering camp, Brazzell was viewed as a candidate for an early role in the passing game, praised for his speed and body control. The team’s own preseason position preview suggested he could make an impact if he mastered the offense quickly. That potential now hinges on the results of his medical evaluation.
Benyard, listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, arrives after a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills earlier in the offseason. In his final college season at Kennesaw State he caught 60 passes for 949 yards and nine touchdowns.
While his production offers Carolina another developmental body for training-camp practices and preseason games, the signing should not be read as a direct replacement for Brazzell. The two players present markedly different physical profiles, and Benyard is still beginning his first NFL season.
Washington, by contrast, brings a measure of professional experience. The former sixth-round pick appeared in 15 games over two seasons with Atlanta, starting twice and recording seven receptions for 108 yards. Signed when Chisena was placed on injured reserve, Washington also carries special-teams value that could accelerate his path into the roster mix relative to the undrafted Benyard.
None of the recent moves alter the top of the Panthers’ receiver depth chart. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker remain the primary options, with Xavier Legette, John Metchie III, David Moore and others competing for supporting roles.
What the additions do provide is protection against a depleted practice group and additional competition for the final receiver and special-teams spots as the preseason draws closer.
For the moment the central uncertainty remains Brazzell’s health. Carolina’s decision to add Benyard so promptly underscores an immediate need for practice depth, yet the rookie’s evaluation will determine whether the move was simply precautionary or the start of a broader adjustment at the position.
