Carolina Panthers Part Ways with Former Alabama Wide Receiver Cam Sims

Cam Sims, the former Alabama wide receiver, is no longer with the Carolina Panthers. The NFL’s daily transactions report confirmed that the Panthers have released Sims from the reserve/physically unable to perform list as of Tuesday, following an injury settlement.

Sims had initially been placed on the active PUP list on July 20 upon reporting to training camp. By July 26, he was moved to reserve/PUP, effectively removing him from the 90-player roster limit set for the preseason.

An injury settlement typically allows a player on injured reserve or PUP to part ways with his team immediately. This arrangement usually compensates the player based on how long his injury is expected to keep him out of action.

While the specifics of Sims’ injury remain undisclosed, he will be free to join another team if he makes a full recovery during the 2024 season.

Sims initially signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent last offseason. However, he was released on August 29 when the Raiders trimmed their roster to the 53-player regular-season limit. He later joined the New York Giants’ practice squad on September 4 but was released on October 10. Sims was subsequently added to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad on November 30, only to be released again on December 4. The Panthers signed him to their practice squad the following day, where he spent the remainder of the 2023 season without seeing regular-season action.

During his college career at Alabama, Sims recorded 14 receptions for 207 yards and one touchdown in 2017, contributing to the Crimson Tide’s CFP national championship. His performance tied him with Robert Foster and Jerry Jeudy for second on the team behind Calvin Ridley’s 63 receptions. The team also featured future NFL stars Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith.

Sims began his NFL career with the Washington Redskins, where he made the team with five catches for 131 yards during the 2018 preseason. However, a high ankle sprain suffered on a kickoff return during the season opener sidelined him for the rest of the year. In 2019, Sims was briefly on Washington’s active roster but spent most of the year on the practice squad, tallying two receptions for 27 yards in seven games.

Sims rebounded in 2020, playing in every game and recording 32 receptions for 477 yards and one touchdown. He also made a notable impact in the NFC playoffs, amassing seven catches for 104 yards in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Washington retained Sims with a one-year, $2.133 million contract in 2021, during which he had 15 receptions for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He signed another one-year deal worth $2.59 million for the 2022 season, adding eight receptions for 89 yards to his stats.

In 55 NFL regular-season games, Sims has accumulated 57 receptions for 804 yards and three touchdowns.