NFL Rumors: Panthers Could Be Down Both Starting Safeties in Week 5

The Carolina Panthers defense could be in a tough spot for their Week 5 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The team placed starting safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve earlier in the week, and now fellow starter Xavier Woods appears poised to miss Sunday's contest as well.

Panthers could be down two safeties Sunday. Jeremy Chinn already on IR and Xavier Woods not practicing for the second straight day.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 6, 2022

Chinn suffered a hamstring injury in the team's Week 4 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Woods apparently aggravated a hamstring injury that limited him in practice last week. Woods still has a slight chance to see the field this week: he played 100% of the team's defensive snaps this past Sunday and could potentially tough it out again.

Haunting his former team. Xavier Woods snags the INT! #SKOL @its_hollyWOODS

📺: #DALvsMIN on NBC
📱: https://t.co/vo1pze9aC5 pic.twitter.com/3XXLTpXZiy
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2021

Woods joined the Panthers this offseason after a one-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings. He entered the league as the Dallas Cowboys' 191st pick in the 2017 NFL draft and quickly worked his way to significant playing time. He started 48 games in four years for the team, nabbing five interceptions.

Woods bet on himself last season on a one-year deal with the Vikings and responded with arguably his best year as a pro, starting 17 games and pulling down a career-high three interceptions. The Panthers rewarded the safety with a three-year, $15 million deal in free agency.