Shi Smith scores first career TD, set up by Jaycee Horn interception
It was a good day for former South Carolina Gamecocks who now play for the Carolina Panthers.
Former South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn snagged a first-quarter interception Sunday in the Panthers’ 30-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Moments later, former Gamecocks wide receiver Shi Smith scored his first career NFL touchdown, a 13-yarder from Sam Darnold.
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The interception was the fourth in the young career of Horn, who was drafted by Carolina with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Smith, who is also in his second season in the league, has 16 receptions for 185 yards and a TD this season.
Earlier in the day, former South Carolina defensive back Israel Mukuamu, Horn’s best friend during their time together in the program, grabbed a win-securing interception in the end zone to help the Cowboys hold off an upset bid from the Texans.
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Deebo Samuel injury likely not as bad as first feared
Former South Carolina Gamecocks star receiver and kickoff returner Deebo Samuel was carted off the field with a scary-looking lower leg injury Sunday in the second quarter of the San Francisco 49ers’ 35-7 victory over Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.
What was initially feared to be a knee issue was later deemed an ankle injury and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said in his postgame press conference that it was not a fracture and was believed to be a high-ankle sprain.
The team will likely do more tests to confirm.
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If it is indeed a high-ankle sprain, it could still keep Samuel out of the rest of the regular season but it would leave the door open for a playoff return for Samuel with the 9-4 9ers.
Samuel suffered the injury after taking a handoff in the backfield when he then spun away from one defender and then was wrapped up by two more as a fourth entered the picture and Samuel’s leg got awkwardly pinned underneath one of the defenders as he rolled to the ground and initially grabbed his knee.
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The crowd chanted “Deebo, Deebo” as Samuel first tried to walk off the field under his own power, according to ESPN.com, but was eventually carted off, visibly upset.
Prior to the injury, Samuel had four catches for 43 yards and four rushes for 21 yards and a touchdown in the game.
For the season, the Chapman High graduate has 54 receptions for 612 yards and two touchdowns as well as 41 carries for 228 yards and three scores.
