Canadian receiver Malick Meiga waived by Carolina Panthers with injury designation

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have waived Canadian receiver Malick Meiga with an injury designation following their first preseason game.

Meiga made his NFL preseason debut during Carolina’s 33-30 victory over Arizona in the Hall of Fame game. He made one catch for 13 yards.

Should Meiga clear waivers and not be claimed by another NFL team, he will revert to the Panthers’ injured reserve. The team then has five days to negotiate an injury settlement if they wish to release him. With the exception of two players designated during final cuts, players who are placed on injured reserve during training camp and do not reach a settlement are not eligible to play that season.

The uber-athletic pass catcher, who is represented by Montreal-based agent Nathaniel (Nate) Thomas, reportedly received a $15,000 signing bonus to sign in Charlotte as an undrafted free agent. According to sources, he turned down more guaranteed money from other suitors, believing that the Panthers offered a better chance to make the roster on special teams.

Meiga played 23 games over two seasons at Coastal Carolina University, recording 26 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown. He started his collegiate career at Penn State, where he made nine receptions for 106 yards and one score over 28 games. He was also a major special teams contributor throughout his career, making nine tackles.

The six-foot-three, 205-pound target ran an official 4.43-second forty-yard dash at the Chanticleers’ pro day, though multiple scouts timed him in the 4.3-range. He also recorded 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, a 4.34-second shuttle, a 7.10-second three-cone drill, a 36.5-inch vertical jump, and a ten-foot, six-inch broad jump.

Meiga was born in the Ivory Coast and spent part of his childhood in Rome, Italy, before moving to Saint Jerome, Que. He played at Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, developing into a three-star recruit who received offers from 17 NCAA programs before settling on the Nittany Lions.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats own Meiga’s CFL rights after selecting him with the 14th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 CFL Draft. However, he is expected to get healthy and exhaust all NFL opportunities before returning to Canada.