Sam Franklin is set to miss at least some time in 2024. The Panthers safety suffered a broken foot during Saturday’s training camp practice, head coach Dave Canales said on Monday. 
Fortunately, Canales added (via Joe Person of the Athletic) Franklin is expected to be back at some point in the season. The 28-year-old has been in Carolina since 2020, logging nine starts. He has not been a regular first-team option on defense, but he has proven to be a highly effective special teams contributor. Being without Franklin for a portion of the campaign will particularly hinder the Panthers’ third phase performance.
The former UDFA re-signed in Carolina on a one-year deal this offseason, and another strong special teams campaign and/or an uptick in defensive usage would have gone a long way in helping his market value. Instead, he will spend the rest of the summer recovering while aiming to minimize the time he misses in the regular season. The Panthers will move forward with Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller and Nick Scott in place at the safety position.
When Woods (along with fellow 2023 starter Vonn Bell) missed time through injury last season, Franklin took on a notable defensive role. The latter recorded a career-high 30 tackles in 2023, adding his first interception. Bell was released, but the signings of Fuller and Scott make it likely Franklin will be relegated to special teams duties once he is healthy.
Carolina is near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space at the moment with just over $6MM available. Any moves made to replace Franklin will need to be low-cost investments as a result, but further details on his recovery timeline will no doubt provide clarity on how the team proceeds.