Player News
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The Panthers aren't planning to tender Blackshear this offseason, which will make him an unrestricted free agent, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Blackshear entered the offseason as a restricted free agent, so the Panthers could ensure they keep him by tendering him and matching any offer from another club. However, Carolina doesn't appear as if it will that direction, which will instead allow Blackshear to enter unrestricted free agency. The 26-year-old saw limited work on offense in 2024 (his third NFL campaign), compiling 15 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown over 16 contests without getting any looks in the passing game. However, he served as Carolina's top kickoff and punt returner, so the Panthers will need to find a replacement for those roles if they indeed elect to part ways with Blackshear.
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Blackshear rushed four times for 47 yards in Sunday's 44-38 overtime win over the Falcons. The Virginia Tech product returned to his reserve role, playing behind Miles Sanders, who delivered a monster performance in Sunday's overtime win with 20 touches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Blackshear was extremely effective with his limited opportunities, rushing for 47 yards on just four carries (11.8 yards per carry), including a 27-yard run in the second quarter that helped set up a Panthers touchdown. The 26-year-old appeared in 16 games for Carolina this season, totaling 80 rushing yards on just 15 carries. He added 791 kick return yards and 145 punt return yards, serving as the Panthers' primary return specialist throughout the year.
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Blackshear will start at running back in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. With Chuba Hubbard (knee/calf) joining Jonathon Brooks (knee) and Miles Sanders (ankle) on injured reserve earlier in the week, Blackshear will be the next man up in the Carolina backfield, though he won't necessarily be tasked with handling Hubbard's three-down workhorse role. Since entering the NFL in 2022, Blackshear has seen the bulk of his action on special teams, where he's shined as a return man. However, the 5-foot-9, 190-pound Blackshear was an accomplished receiver in college, producing a 123-1,213-7 receiving line over five seasons between Rutgers and Virginia Tech. Blackshear should thus have some extra appeal as a lineup option or DFS play in PPR formats with the likelihood that Carolina keeps him involved in the passing game, though the Panthers may not ask the diminutive running back to take on heavy volume on the ground. Mike Boone and Velus Jones are also on hand as options out of the backfield and could carve out roles in the Week 17 game plan.
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Blackshear is expected to see added work during the Panthers' final two regular season games with Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee) set to be placed on injured reserve Saturday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Blackshear is currently the only other running back on the Panthers' 53-man roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, but Mike Boone and Emani Bailey are on the team's practice squad. Blackshear and Boone will most likely to share backfield work in Week 17, though to what extent is unclear.
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Blackshear took three carries for 13 yards in Sunday's 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals. The 26-year-old entered Sunday's contest without a rushing attempt this season, but with Miles Sanders (ankle) and Jonathon Brooks (knee) both sidelined, Blackshear stepped in and served as Carolina's No. 2 running back, playing behind Chuba Hubbard. Blackshear made the most of his three carries, averaging 4.33 yards per attempt. His performance in Week 16 likely solidified his role as the Panthers' top backup running back for the remainder of the season. He will next take the field in the Week 17 matchup against the Buccaneers.
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Completed Games
| WK | OPP | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD | RECPT | REYD | RETD | FPTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @NO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | LAC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | @LV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | CIN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | @CHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | ATL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | @WAS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | @DEN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | NO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | NYG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | BYE | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 12 | KC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | TB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | @PHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| *15 | DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | ARI | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | @TB | 8 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 18 | @ATL | 4 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| PROJECTION | 27 | 83 | 1 | 7 | 50 | - | 8 | |
| * indicates player did not play that week | ||||||||
Team Trends
Red Zone Trends
Career Stats
| Season | RuAtt | RuYd | RuTD | Recpt | ReYd | ReTD | FPTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2023 | 14 | 46 | 0 | 6 | 45 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 23 | 77 | 3 | 10 | 93 | 0 | 31 |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 Year Avg | 18 | 62 | 2 | 8 | 69 | 0 | 13 |
| Career | 52 | 203 | 3 | 16 | 138 | 0 |