CHARLOTTE - The Carolina Panthers inked safety Eric Reid to a one-year contract on Thursday.

  • Reid knelt alongside former teammate Colin Kaepernick to protest racial injustice and police brutality
  • NFL Players Association field a grievance on Reid's behalf
  • Reid is expected to be at practice on Monday

Reid, a five-year NFL veteran, was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season of 2013 after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 18th overall.

“Eric has been a starting safety in the NFL and has played at a high level throughout his career,” general manager Marty Hurney said in a team press release. “After we put Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve, Ron (Rivera) and I discussed our options, and Eric was at the top of our list. He is a physical safety with good ball skills and play-making ability.”

Reid was a teammate with Colin Kaepernick, and knelt alongside the quarterback during the playing of the national anthem, to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Reid went unsigned by San Francisco after his contract expired, making him a free agent.

 

 

The NFL Players Association field a grievance on Reid's behalf claiming other NFL teams were colluding to keep Reid unemployed.  According to the NFL Network, the status of that grievance remains unchanged, even after his signing in Carolina.

The Panthers are on their week four bye week, and Reid is expected to be at practice on Monday when the team returns from the week off.

 

 
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