It was a surprise to most every Texas A&M football fan to hear that Ainias Smith, after a stellar preseason, was cut from the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith's excellent play over the last few weeks made it seem as though he would make the 53-man roster for the defending Super Bowl champions, but it was not meant to be, it seems.
This was frustrating for Aggie fans, given how beloved Ainias Smith is in College Station. He worked his way up from a low three-star signee to one of the most important players on the Aggies from 2019-2023, and was absolutely key in several huge A&M victories.
Smith's talent, versatility, and hard work are too rare a combination to wash out of the NFL entirely when his career is so young, of course, so A&M fans have been watching closely to see where he will end up. We now have that answer, and it could form a new Aggie favorite team in the NFC.
Ainias Smith joining several other Texas A&M football players with Carolina Panthers, per reports
It was reported yesterday that Ainias Smith will be signing with the Carolina Panthers practice squad:
Former #Eagles WR Ainias Smith is signing with the #Panthers practice squad, per @josephperson. https://t.co/TxuKD7nmtj pic.twitter.com/17Bp681OLB
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 27, 2025
This is certainly a less crowded receiver room for Ainias to break into than it was in Philadelphia, which is a plus without a doubt. However, something else that will catch the eyes of Aggie fans is the fact that there are so many other A&M players on the Panthers.
Bobby Brown, Nic Scourton, and Demani Richardson are all rostered by Carolina, and Smith will be joining them as the fourth A&M player on the Panthers. Though he's on the practice squad right now, it's definitely realistic to think that he will end up seeing some time in the real games given his skill set and the Panthers' current personnel.
Hopefully, this ends up being a long-term home for Ainias. It would really be something to see the NFL Aggie brotherhood have an outpost there in Carolina, and Smith's addition to the roster furthers that possibility.