Sam Franklin
#3 S,
Panthers

ACTUAL 2022
16 FPTS
RANK: 712
2023 SEASON
- FPTS
RANK: -
AGE
27 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'3'' / 210 lbs
COLLEGE
Temple
SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK |
2022 | 17 | 16 | 712th |
Set to start Week 8
Franklin is set to start at strong safety for Sunday's game against the Texans, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
The move comes with safeties Vonn Bell (quadriceps) and Alex Cook (coach's decision) both inactive for Sunday's contest. Franklin has 22 tackles in six games this season -- already surpassing his 20 tackles from last year -- and an interception return for a touchdown. He'll start at strong safety next to Xavier Woods.
Fantasy Points by Week 2022
Weekly Stats 2022
1 CLE | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | -2.0 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 NO | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 2.5 | 40.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
5 SF | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 5.5 | 39.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
6 @LA | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 9.5 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
7 TB | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 13.0 | 40.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
8 @ATL | Dome undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 4.0 | 41.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
11 @BAL | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 12.5 | 41.5 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
12 DEN | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 1.5 | 35.5 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
15 PIT | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | -3.0 | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
17 @TB | Outdoor undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 3.5 | 39.5 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined | |
18 @NO | Dome undefined° | undefined | NaNth | 3.5 | 41.5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Performance Splits: 2020 to 2022
Home | Outdoor | 23 | 3 | undefined | NaNth | 206 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 38% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Away | Outdoor | 15 | 1 | undefined | NaNth | 158 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 69% | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Away | Dome | 3 | 1 | undefined | NaNth | 81 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Away | Retractable Dome | 6 | 0 | undefined | NaNth | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | undefined | undefined |
Career Stats by Season: 2020 to 2022
2020 | 24 | CAR | 14 | 4 | 36 | 529th | 251 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 46% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 25 | CAR | 16 | 0 | 27 | 622th | 152 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 60% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2022 | 26 | CAR | 17 | 1 | 16 | 712th | 88 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 67% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Takes advantage of start
Franklin recorded four tackles (two solo) and returned an interception for a touchdown in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings.
Franklin received the start at free safety with Xavier Woods (hamstring) unable to play and took advantage of the opportunity. With the Vikings on the doorstep, the Temple product was able to pick off a pass intended for K.J. Osborn at the 1-yard line and take it 99 yards for the first score of the game. It was the 27-year-old's first interception of his career, as well as his first touchdown. With Woods still ailing and potentially facing a multi-week absence, Franklin may get the start again in Week 5 against the Lions.
Expected to start
Franklin should start Sunday against the Vikings, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Franklin will be the one to get the nod at free safety in place of Xavier Woods, who will be out with a hamstring injury. The Temple product ended up playing 53 defensive snaps against the Seahawks in Week 3, after Woods left with the injury, and recorded five tackles and a pass defended.
Staying in Carolina
Franklin signed a one-year deal with the Panthers on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Franklin was originally a restricted free agent, and now that he's signed his tender, the 27-year-old will be back in Carolina for the upcoming campaign. After going undrafted in 2020, he played primarily on special teams last season and logged 20 tackles (15 solo) in 17 games. Franklin should have a similar role and contribute on special teams during the 2023 campaign.
Tendered by Panthers
Franklin received the minimum restricted free-agent tender from the Panthers on Monday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports.
This move gives the Panthers the ability to match any contract offered to Franklin. The linebacker-turned-safety is likely to return to Carolina in 2023, as Franklin's 67 tackles through 47 NFL games are unlikely to generate much buzz on the free-agent market.