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Former Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith signs with AFC team

T.J. Smith played three games for the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 season.
Jeremy Brener|
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith pressures as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a pass.
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith pressures as Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a pass. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

Former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith has a new home.

According to Jim Wyatt, the Tennessee Titans are signing Smith to their 90-man roster.

"Smith, who played at Arkansas, has spent time with the Chargers, Vikings, and Panthers in the NFL," Wyatt wrote.

"Smith (6-3, 300) has played in seven career games, and has been credited with 13 tackles, including a tackle for a loss."

New England Patriots guard Layden Robinson blocks Carolina Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith
New England Patriots guard Layden Robinson blocks Carolina Panthers defensive tackle T.J. Smith. | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

To make room on the roster for Smith, the Titans released veteran defensive lineman Philip Blidi.

Smith, 28, signed with the Panthers during training camp last season but did not make the team's 53-man roster. He was signed to the practice squad and was elevated during Weeks 5-7. In that time, Smith recorded two tackles for the Panthers.

Smith didn't have a large role for the Panthers and even though he hasn't played much since entering the league five years ago, he still remains a desirable commodity for teams and that's a positive sign for him as he goes into his sixth season in the league.

The Titans don't play the Panthers this season, so if Smith were to make the roster in any capacity whether on the 53-man or practice squad, there would not be a reunion game in the works.

In the meantime, the Panthers have one more preseason game to figure out how their 53-man roster will look going into the season. They are set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. ET inside Bank of America Stadium.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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