Report: WR Torrey Smith Released by Panthers After 1 Season with Team

The Carolina Panthers have released veteran wide receiver Torrey Smith, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Smith spent one season in Carolina, catching 17 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.

He and the Panthers re-negotiated his contract in May to ease his salary cap hit in 2019. His departure frees up $2 million with $1 million counting against the cap as dead money, per Over the Cap.

A knee injury kept Smith out for five games in 2018, and the injury apparently lingered into the offseason, limiting him in some of the Panthers' offseason activities.

The 30-year-old is the second notable departure from Carolina's receiving corps. Devin Funchess signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Panthers signed Chris Hogan, who had 35 receptions for 532 yards and three touchdowns with the New England Patriots, which was their biggest addition to the passing game.

The team is likely banking on more from Curtis Samuel in his third season. The 2017 second-round pick had 494 receiving yards—up from 115 as a rookie—and five touchdown receptions. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner told reporters he doesn't plan on giving Christian McCaffrey fewer touches after McCaffrey logged 219 carries and caught 107 passes.

For Smith, his release is another step backward. After leading the league in yards per reception (20.1) in 2015, his average declined over each of the next three years, hitting 11.2 yards per reception a season ago.

Given his experience, he'll likely earn at least one more shot in the NFL as long as he can show his knee is back to 100 percent.