Before cutting a cake on Thursday, wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette had to endure a cut of his own this afternoon.
On Wednesday, the 24-year-old receiver was one of six players released by the Carolina Panthers. And yes, it just so happens that the move happened literally one day before his 25th birthday.
Nevertheless, Smith-Marsette used Twitter/X to “celebrate” shortly after the news broke…
Happy birthday to me 🫡
— Ihmir Smith-Marsette (@ihmirsm) 28 August 2024
Smith-Marsette appeared in all 17 games for Carolina during the 2023 season and was the team’s primary punt returner. The speedster totaled 322 yards on 37 punt returns, a league-high, including a 79-yard touchdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 10.
However, with Smith-Marsette no longer on the roster and on waivers (at least for now), the Panthers will need to find a replacement for him. Head coach Dave Canales offered some options after practice on Wednesday.
“Raheem Blackshear is a fantastic returner. He can do both,” Canales told reporters. “David Moore can do both, too. Mike Boone has been a returner in the past. So those are some of the guys we’re really counting on.”
In any case…happy birthday, Ihmir!
