XAVIER WOODS NEWS

Career year in 2024 Woods recorded 119 total tackles and six passes defended, including three interceptions, across 17 games in 2024.

Impact The 29-year-old safety set a new career high in total tackles and tied his personal best in interceptions while appearing in every game for the Panthers in 2024. Woods was one of the few bright spots on Carolina's defense, despite the team allowing the most points in a single season in NFL history. He's now completed the final year of a three-year, $15 million contract he signed with the Panthers in March of 2022, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Expect Woods to be a hot name on the free-agent market for teams in need of a veteran safety.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Career-high 12 tackles vs. Bucs Woods finished Sunday's 48-14 loss to Tampa Bay with 12 tackles (six solo).

Impact Woods played all 74 defensive snaps Sunday, and his 12 combined tackles were his most in a game in his eight-year NFL career. Despite the loss, Woods' efforts brought him up to 114 combined tackles through 16 games, which surpassed his previous career best from the 2021 campaign with the Vikings (108 combined tackles through 17 regular-season games). Woods will look to add to his total in Carolina's regular-season finale against Atlanta next Sunday.

DECEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Xavier Woods on the defense looking to put a full game together Watch the Panthers safety speak to the media after Sunday's matchup in Tampa Bay.

DECEMBER 29, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Records six stops in Week 16 Woods tallied six tackles (four solo) Sunday in a 36-30 overtime victory against the Cardinals.

Impact Woods tied with three other players for third on the Panthers with six stops. The veteran safety has been very consistent throughout the campaign, notching at least five tackles in all but one of his 15 contests. Woods' six stops Sunday moved him up to 102 tackles on the campaign, marking the second time in his eight-year career that he's reached the triple-digit mark during the regular season.

DECEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

QB Cooper Rush providing big lift to Cowboys offense

Cooper Rush and the Dallas offense seem to be rounding into form, although it is almost certainly a case of too little, too late for the Cowboys to make a playoff push

DECEMBER 16, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Xavier Woods: 'We all have pride' Listen to Panthers safety speak in the locker room on Monday.

DECEMBER 2, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Hot streak continues Sunday Woods recorded seven total tackles (five solo) and one interception in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Buccaneers.

Impact Woods played 100 percent of the Panthers' defensive snaps for 10th time this season, intercepting Baker Mayfield in the third quarter of Sunday's loss, which set up a 22-yard field goal from Eddy Pineiro. The 29-year-old has stepped up across the Panthers' last three games, recording 23 total tackles and three passes defended, including two interceptions, during that span. He's expected to continue making plays for what appears to be an improving Panthers defense in Week 14, when the team travels to Philadelphia.

DECEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Xavier Woods picks off Mayfield's pass and returns it deep into Bucs' territory Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods records an interception against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and gains 33 yards on...

DECEMBER 2, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Fills stat sheet vs. Chiefs Woods recorded eight total tackles (seven solo), including one tackle for loss, and defended one pass in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.

Impact The veteran safety tied A'Shawn Robinson for the second-most tackles on the Panthers' defense in Sunday's loss, trailing Josey Jewell's nine-stop performance. Woods is on pace for his best season in Carolina, recording 77 total tackles and four passes defended, including two interceptions, through 11 appearances. Expect the 29-year-old to continue starting opposite Jordan Fuller in the Panthers' secondary, serving as one of the team's defensive leaders.

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared to face Kansas City Woods (shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Chiefs and is expected to play, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Woods was limited in practice earlier in the week but is good to go coming out of Carolina's bye. The veteran safety has started all 10 games and played 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps, logging 69 tackles (40 solo) and a pair of interceptions.

NOVEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Limited Wednesday Woods (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Impact The 29-year-old now appears to be dealing with a shoulder issue following the Panthers' Week 11 bye. Woods has appeared in all 10 of Carolina's games this season, recording 69 total tackles and three passes defended, including two interceptions. If he's unable to suit up when the Panthers host the Chiefs in Week 12, expect Lonnie Johnson to serve as Carolina's top free safety.

NOVEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets an interception in Germany Woods recorded eight tackles (three solo) and an interception during Sunday's 20-17 overtime win against the Giants.

Impact Woods played more than 70 defensive snaps for his third game in a row in Week 10, and he came up with his second pick of the year in a game where Daniel Jones threw two. He's solidly on the IDP map in most formats for the rest of the second half of the year.

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' pass is tipped and picked by Xavier Woods New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones' pass is tipped and picked by Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods.

NOVEMBER 10, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Carr's return to the Saints' lineup is horrendous as he loses his top target, the game and his coach

Nothing went right in Derek Carr's return to the New Orleans Saints' lineup in Week 9

NOVEMBER 5, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Xavier Woods speaks to the media following Saints game Watch the Panthers safety speak to the media after the team's Week 9 win against the New Orleans Saints.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Foster Moreau mosses Xavier Woods on TD | Saints-Panthers Highlights | 2024 NFL Week 9 Watch highlights of New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau mossing Xavier Woods on the 17-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr against th...

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • NEWORLEANSSAINTS.COM

Saints WR Chris Olave discharged from hospital after being carted off field

Saints WR Chris Olave was put on a backboard and carted off the field in the first quarter of Sunday’s game vs. the Panthers.

NOVEMBER 3, 2024

Saints WR Chris Olave discharged from hospital after concussion, to return to New Orleans with team

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been discharged from Carolinas Medical Center and set to return to New Orleans on Sunday with his teammates following a 23-22 loss to the Carol...

NOVEMBER 3, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Leading tackler through Week 7 Woods recorded seven total tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 40-7 loss to the Commanders.

Impact The veteran safety has now accumulated 51 total tackles across the Panthers' first seven games and has 16 more tackles than Carolina's second-leading tackler, Shaq Thompson (Achilles). Woods is on pace for just under 124 total tackles across 17 regular-season games this year, which would surpass his previous best of 108 tackles with the Vikings in 2018. Expect Woods to continue being one of the few bright spots on Carolina's defense ahead of the team's Week 8 matchup against the Broncos.

OCTOBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Xavier Woods on playing against Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels Watch the Panthers safety speak to the media in Week 7.

OCTOBER 17, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Fills stat sheet in Week 6 Woods recorded nine total tackles (seven solo) and defended one pass in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Panthers.

Impact Woods tied Trevin Wallace and Troy Hill for the most stops on the Panthers' defense in Week 6, bringing his season total up to 44 total tackles. The 29-year-old has remained one of Carolina's best defensive players despite the unit's struggles through six games (33.8 points per game allowed). Expect Woods to continue making plays as the Panthers travel to take on the Commanders in Week 7.

OCTOBER 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Double-digit tackles Sunday Woods logged 10 total tackles (seven solo), including one tackle for loss, while also nabbing an interception during Sunday's 34-24 loss to the Bengals.

Impact Woods was one of the few bright spots on Carolina's defense in Week 4, leading the team while racking up a season-high 10 stops. The veteran safety also picked off Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss, helping the Panthers cut Cincinnati's lead to just one score. Woods has now recorded 28 total tackles and one interception across the Panthers' first four contests, and he's expected to continue making plays as the team takes on the Bears in Week 5.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Must-See: Xavier Woods locks on to Burrow's errant pass for INT Carolina Panthers safety Xavier Woods locks on to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's errant pass for an interception.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Xavier Woods on Brown injury: 'It's devastating' Watch the Panthers defensive back speak to the media as the team heads to Week 2 of the 2024 campaign.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 • PANTHERS.COM

Panthers Pro Bowl DE Derrick Brown to have knee surgery, could miss rest of season, AP source says

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown will need surgery on his knee and could miss the remainde...

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS