Woods (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
The 29-year-old now appears to be dealing with a shoulder issue following the Panthers' Week 11 bye. Woods has appeared in all 10 of Carolina's games this season, recording 69 total tackles and three passes defended, including two interceptions. If he's unable to suit up when the Panthers host the Chiefs in Week 12, expect Lonnie Johnson to serve as Carolina's top free safety.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Gets an interception in Germany
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Woods recorded eight tackles (three solo) and an interception during Sunday's 20-17 overtime win against the Giants.
Woods played more than 70 defensive snaps for his third game in a row in Week 10, and he came up with his second pick of the year in a game where Daniel Jones threw two interceptions. He's solidly on the IDP map in most formats for the rest of the second half of the year.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Leading tackler through Week 7
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Woods recorded seven total tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 40-7 loss to the Commanders.
The veteran safety has now accumulated 51 total tackles across the Panthers' first seven games and has 16 more tackles than Carolina's second-leading tackler, Shaq Thompson (Achilles). Woods is on pace for just under 124 total tackles across 17 regular-season games this year, which would surpass his previous best of 108 stops with the Vikings in 2018. Expect Woods to continue as one of the few bright spots on Carolina's defense ahead of the team's Week 8 matchup against the Broncos.
Woods logged 10 total tackles (seven solo), including one tackle for loss, while also nabbing an interception during Sunday's 34-24 loss to the Bengals.
Woods was one of the few bright spots on Carolina's defense in Week 4, leading the team while racking up a season-high 10 stops. The veteran safety also picked off Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss, helping the Panthers cut Cincinnati's lead to just one score. Woods has now recorded 28 total tackles and one interception across the Panthers' first four contests, and he's expected to continue making plays as the team takes on the Bears in Week 5.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Returns Wednesday
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Woods (groin) was left off the Panthers' injury report Wednesday ahead of Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Saints.
Woods had been battling a groin injury since mid-August, but he now appears to be past the issue. The veteran safety appeared in 14 regular-season games with Carolina in 2023, recording 61 total tackles and seven passes defended, including two interceptions. He's expected to start alongside offseason addition Jordan Fuller as part of the Panthers' top safety duo in 2024.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Battling groin issue
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Woods missed practice Thursday with a groin injury, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Woods is headed into his third season with the Panthers. He's started all 29 games he's appeared in for the team over the last two campaigns and is coming off of a 61-tackle 2023. Woods also recorded a pair of interceptions, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery. The Athletic's Joe Person reports Woods is expected to be sidelined a couple weeks.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Misses three games
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Woods finished the regular season with 61 tackles (39 solo), two interceptions on seven passes defended and one fumble recovery in 14 games.
Woods missed a few weeks with a hamstring injury, yet his tackle output was still below his career average per game. On the bright side, he managed a pair of interceptions after not securing any in 2022. The 28-year-old is slated to return to the Panthers in 2024, the final year under his current contract.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Good to go for Week 16
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Woods (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Woods was battling an illness that spread through Carolina's locker room earlier in the week, but he practiced without limitations Friday after being limited Wednesday and Thursday. He'll occupy his usual starting free safety role Sunday against the Packers.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Playing through illness Sunday
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Woods (illness) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Woods was a late addition to the Panthers' injury report Friday after picking up an illness, but he'll suit up for Sunday's NFC South showdown. He's played every defensive snap over his last five games and has accumulated 21 tackles and an interception over that span.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Questionable with illness
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Woods (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Falcons.
What kind of illness Woods is dealing with is unclear at this point, but in any case, his availability for Week 15 is now in jeopardy. If he can't go Sunday, one of Sam Franklin (illness) or Alex Cook would be in line to start in Woods' place.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Snags pick versus Tampa Bay
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Woods recorded three tackles (one solo), a pass deflection and an interception in Sunday's 21-17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Woods had a solid outing during Carolina's loss as he managed to snag his first interception of the season. The 2017 sixth-round pick will now look to build upon this strong performance during the upcoming matchup versus the Saints.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Ready to go for Week 11
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Woods (thigh) is active for Sunday's matchup with the Cowboys, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official website reports.
Woods was able to log a full practice Friday after being limited with a thigh injury to open the week and he's now ready to go for Sunday's matchup with Dallas. The safety has recorded 18 tackles and a fumble recovery over Carolina's last three games.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Ready for Thursday Night Football
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Woods (groin) is active for Thursday's matchup against the Bears, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Woods was sidelined earlier in the season due to a hamstring issue, and he reappeared on the injury report prior to Thursday's contest with a groin injury. However, he'll be prepared to suit up and will help a Panthers defense that is getting healthier thanks to the return of fellow safety Vonn Bell (quadriceps).
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Won't play at Miami
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Woods (hamstring) is listed as out for Sunday's game at the Dolphins.
Woods will sit out a third consecutive game as he recovers from a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 3 at Seattle. With Vonn Bell (quadriceps) also listed as out, Sam Franklin and rookie fifth-rounder Jammie Robinson will likely be heavily involved in Carolina's defensive backfield in Week 6.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Still not back at practice
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Woods (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Woods' absence from practice Wednesday is no big surprise after it was reported last week that he could miss four to six weeks. He looks to be on track to miss a second consecutive game in Week 5.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Won't return Sunday
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Woods has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Seahawks with a hamstring injury, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
The Panthers will now turn to Sam Franklin to take additional snaps at safety with Woods out for the rest of Sunday's contest and Jammie Robinson (coach's decision) ruled out before kickoff. Woods registered one tackle before exiting the game.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Dressing for Week 15
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Woods (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
After sitting out last week's win over the Seahawks due to the knee injury, Woods checks back into the lineup after he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to full activity Friday. Though the Panthers ultimately listed him as questionable heading into Sunday, Woods will suit up and shouldn't have any limitations in his return. The fact that Carolina chose to place another safety (Juston Burris) on the inactive list supports the notion that Woods isn't expected to face any restrictions.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Eight tackles in win
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Woods recorded eight tackles (six solo) while deflecting a pass in Thursday's 25-15 win over the Falcons.
Woods continued his steady increase in production Thursday, raising his weekly tackle total for the fifth consecutive game. The safety was also able to register his third pass deflection of the campaign while playing every defensive snap in the contest.
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Panthers' Xavier Woods: Not playing Sunday
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Woods (hamstring) is inactive Sunday against the 49ers, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
Woods' inability to play will put the Panthers down both their starting safeties, as Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) was placed on IR on Wednesday. Juston Burris and Myles Hartsfield will likely get the starts in their absence.
Woods signed a three-year deal with the Panthers on Monday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
Woods joins the third team of his professional career, having already spent four seasons in Dallas and his last in Minnesota. He's picked off multiple passes in three of his five seasons, and he now figures to immediately slot in at free safety in Carolina.
