Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Sticking with the Panthers
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Carolina signed Ricci to a new contract Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Ricci will now avoid becoming an exclusive-rights free agent heading into this coming offseason. The 26-year-old fullback served as a core special-teamer for the second season in a row in 2022, though he also added the first eight receptions of his career for 100 yards over 15 games. Ricci should will likely enter the 2023 regular season as the clear front-runner for the Panthers' starting fullback job.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Sheds injury designation
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Ricci (neck) was a full participant in practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Ricci has been out of action since Week 10, but after he was able to complete a limited practice Wednesday, the 26-year-old upgraded to a full participant Thursday. He should return to his starting fullback role Sunday against the Seahawks.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Limited Wednesday
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Ricci (neck) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Ricci hasn't played since Week 10 due to a neck issue. This isn't the first time he's logged limited participation since picking up the injury, so he'll likely have to submit at least one full practice before returning to game action.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Unavailable Sunday
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Ricci (neck) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
The 25-year-old was doubtful to play due to neck injury and will sit out for a second straight game. Tight ends Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan could see some work at fullback in Ricci's absence.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Doubtful against Denver
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Ricci (neck) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Ricci was unable to practice at all throughout the week. The fullback is likely to miss a second consecutive game after getting injured in Week 10 against the Falcons.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Out Sunday
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Ricci (neck) is inactive Sunday against the Ravens.
Ricci was able to log a full practice Thursday, so his inability to suit up this weekend is a bit of a surprise. He'll work to return Week 12 against the Broncos.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Full go Thursday
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Ricci (neck) was listed as a full participant on the Panthers' injury report Thursday.
Ricci was forced out with a neck injury during last Thursday's win over the Falcons, leaving him limited during Carolina's first practice leading up to Week 11. However, the fullback practiced without any limitations Thursday, so he should be ready to suit up Sunday against the Ravens. While Ricci has strictly been used as a blocker in the Panthers' running game so far this season, he's hauled in seven of eight targets for 68 yards over 10 games.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Ricci (neck) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Ricci was forced out of Thursday's win over the Falcons early due to a neck issue, and he hasn't yet managed a return to full health. The fullback will have two more chances to upgrade his practice activity ahead of Sunday's road matchup against Baltimore.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Sheds injury designation
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Ricci practiced at full capacity Friday and carries no injury designation ahead of Carolina's Week 1 matchup versus Cleveland, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Ricci has been dealing with a hip injury he suffered during the Panthers' preseason finale, but he appears to have put that behind him. The NFL sophomore from Western Michigan will likely operate primarily on special teams, but he should see some snaps as a lead blocker for Christian McCaffrey or Chuba Hubbard as well.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Practices in limited capacity
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Ricci (hip) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Ricci suffered the injury during the preseason finale, but he'll have a chance to suit up in Week 1 after returning to practice Wednesday. The undrafted fullback out of Western Michigan appeared in 16 games for the Panthers as a rookie and operated mostly on special teams. If healthy, he figures to garner a similar role in 2022.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Cleared to play in Week 8
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Ricci (concussion) has been cleared to play for the Panthers in their Week 8 contest with the Falcons on Sunday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Ricci suffered a concussion in Week 6 versus the Vikings and was forced to exit that game early. The fullback was ruled out of Week 7 action but will look to make his return to the field in Week 8 after getting cleared from concussion protocols Friday. Expect Ricci to play a minimal role in the Panthers' offense Sunday.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Ruled out for Week 7
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Ricci (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Giants, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Ricci will still need to clear concussion protocol before he's eligible to return to the field. The rookie fullback and tight end has featured exclusively in a blocking role on offense, though Ricci has also carved out a consistent role on special teams. Given his usage up to this point, Ricci's absence will go unnoticed in fantasy circles.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Unavailable for practice
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Ricci (concussion) missed practice again Thursday.
The 25-year-old remains in concussion protocol, causing him to miss a second consecutive practice. He suffered the injury in Week 6 versus Vikings, exiting the contest early. His chances for suiting up Sunday against the Giants are slim, but he still has one more practice Friday to make an appearance.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Operating as blocking tight end
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Ricci has been active for both of the Panthers' first two games of the season, logging no targets across 27 total offensive snaps.
As the lack of targets illustrate, Ricci, a second-year player out of Western Michigan, has been deployed mainly as a blocker at tight end or out of the backfield over his limited work on offense. The 24-year-old looks like a core special-teams player at this stage, as he's played 39 snaps between the Panthers' coverage and returns units. Ricci isn't entirely devoid of pass-catching upside -- he hauled in 51 balls for 642 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season of college in 2019 -- but it'll take multiple injuries at tight end before he takes on any sort of meaningful role on offense.
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Panthers' Giovanni Ricci: Inks future contract
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The Panthers signed Ricci to a reserve/future contract Monday, Will Bryan of the team's official site reports.
Ricci failed to make the active roster in Carolina after posting a 51-642-8 line in his senior season at Western Michigan. The 24-year-old will run it back in 2021 with hopes of securing a depth role.
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Giovanni Ricci: Cut by Panthers
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Ricci was waived by Carolina on Saturday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
The undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan was vying for a reserve tight-end role, but the Panthers opted to keep just two tight ends -- Ian Thomas (toe) and Chris Manhertz. Ricci proved to have pass-catching upside in college, hauling in 51 passes for 642 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season, so the Panthers may look to develop him on the practice squad.
