PANTHERS TRIM ROSTER TO INITIAL 53, LIST OF CUTS AND KEEPS HERE

A few surprises for me.   Expect more surprises over the next several days.  This is by no means the 53 man roster on start day of the 2024 regular season.

Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster


The full list of transactions is as follows:

Waived-injured: DT Junior Aho, OT Tyler Smith.

Waived: DT Ulumoo Ale, G Jack Anderson, LB Aaron Beasley, CB Dicaprio Bootle, G Mason Brooks, S Alex Cook, OT Jeremiah Crawford, CB Willie Drew, OLB Kenny Dyson, TE Feleipe Franks, OT Ricky Lee, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., OLB Derrick McLendon, CB Quandre Mosely, DT Walter Palmore, WR Sam Pinckney, QB Jack Plummer, RB Jaden Shirden, DT TJ Smith, WR Mike Strachan, OLB Luiji Vilain, CB Chris Wilcox, LB Chandler Wooten.

Released (vested veterans): G Ike Boettger, RB Mike Boone, S Rudy Ford, TE Jacob Hollister, TE Jesper Horsted, TE Jordan Matthews.

Reserve/physically unable to perform: OLB Amare Barno, OLB DJ Wonnum.

Reserve/non-football injury: RB Jonathon Brooks.

Injured reserve (designated for return): CB Dane Jackson, S Sam Franklin.

Injured reserve: LB Tae Davis, OLB Cam Gill.

Here's a look at what's left on the roster after the moves:

OFFENSE 25

OL (10): Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Chandler Zavala, Andrew Raym, Cade Mays, Yosh Nijman.

TE (3): Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders, Ian Thomas

WR (7): Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson, Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Jalen Coker.

RB (3): Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear.  (it surprises me that they only kept three running backs)

QB (2): Bryce Young, Andy Dalton.

DEFENSE 25

DL (7): Derrick Brown, Shy Tuttle, A'Shawn Robinson, Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray, Jaden Crumedy, Jayden Peevy.

OLB (4): Jadeveon Clowney, DJ Johnson, K'Lavon Chaisson, Eku Leota.

ILB (4): Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell, Claudin Cherelus, Trevin Wallace.

CB (5): Jaycee Horn, Michael Jackson, Troy Hill, D'Shawn Jamison, Chau Smith-Wade

S (5): Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Jammie Robinson, Demani Richardson.

SPECIAL TEAMS 3

K Eddy Piñeiro, P Johnny Hekker, LS JJ Jansen.

Interesting Matthews was cut

Interesting...

This first iteration represents a starting point. As such, it makes little sense to dive into it too quickly or too deeply. There is still work to be done and a Practice Squad to be built. I expect it to change, possibly dramatically, over the next few days. The 53 roster will continue to change through the first couple of weeks of the season as well.

Having said that, there are three things here that strike me as interesting..

#1 --- The general makeup of the position groups seems a little strange, based on the stated direction the team 'wants' to take this year. Saying nothing about the players involved, the numbers allotted to each group seem 'strange'.

#2 & #3 --- Two players REALLY surprise me. There are some others who make me go "Hmm..??", but as stated, there is still time to make changes. The two players who "surprised" me are: RB Mike Boone, and TE Jordan Matthews.  Our RB room is now standing at three (3) with one of them a return specialist and 'spot' player (Blackshear..). That leaves us with two RBs for now. Yes, we have Jonathon Brooks, sometime, maybe later, at LEAST four weeks into the season, but probably longer. For a "run-first", and basically "smash-mouth" Offense, I confess to being confused. !!! 

And, the Ian Thomas choice over Jordan Matthews defies logical understanding.  I know we (fans) can't see everything. But does anyone remember Ian Thomas being exceptional (even "very good"..??) at anything ??  This one makes no sense to me.  But, what do I know...??  

So now, we sit and watch for FA and Waiver pick-ups, and corresponding releases.  There is work to be done here.....

Congrats guys n gals, we have the start of a roster!

Changes to come, for sure, but I’m pleased as punch.

007 ,, I didn’t see CB Lamar Jackson’s name.. might be an oversight on my part .

007 ,, I didn’t see CB  Lamar Jackson’s name.. might be an oversight on my part .

Was an early cut.

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Interesting...

This first iteration represents a starting point. As such, it makes little sense to dive into it too quickly or too deeply. There is still work to be done and a Practice Squad to be built. I expect it to change, possibly dramatically, over the next few days. The 53 roster will continue to change through the first couple of weeks of the season as well.

Having said that, there are three things here that strike me as interesting..

#1 --- The general makeup of the position groups seems a little strange, based on the stated direction the team 'wants' to take this year. Saying nothing about the players involved, the numbers allotted to each group seem 'strange'.

#2 & #3 --- Two players REALLY surprise me. There are some others who make me go "Hmm..??", but as stated, there is still time to make changes. The two players who "surprised" me are: RB Mike Boone, and TE Jordan Matthews.  Our RB room is now standing at three (3) with one of them a return specialist and 'spot' player (Blackshear..). That leaves us with two RBs for now. Yes, we have Jonathon Brooks, sometime, maybe later, at LEAST four weeks into the season, but probably longer. For a "run-first", and basically "smash-mouth" Offense, I confess to being confused. !!! 

And, the Ian Thomas choice over Jordan Matthews defies logical understanding.  I know we (fans) can't see everything. But does anyone remember Ian Thomas being exceptional (even "very good"..??) at anything ??  This one makes no sense to me.  But, what do I know...??  

So now, we sit and watch for FA and Waiver pick-ups, and corresponding releases.  There is work to be done here.....

Matthews and Boone have bounced around (Matthews trying for a comeback).  I think if they do not get an offer they will be on the PS.  Plummer too if he does not get picked up.

They must really like Coker's potential for the future...he was looking like a PS guy with the deep room but they must not have wanted to take a chance on losing him.

By the way, I saw a tweet hat in his interview this afternoon, Bryce said losing TMJ hurt....was "his guy." Prolly an emotional day for everyone.

Interesting Matthews was cut

I was seriously surprised.  I thought the dude balled out during preseason.

I was shocked that Boone was cut. I thought he showed greater upside than Miles Sanders.

I read Boone should come back quickly(supposedly) n they like Plummer to the ps. I guess Matthew’s showed great receiving skills, iffy as a blocker. Lower lbs, 225 or so. My guess is 240-50 lbs at tight end wanted. If we can I’d stash him on the ps.

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#’s games right now till ps.

Lamar Jackson’s on our ir list, so we still got him.

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Not coming back this year.

Lamar Jackson’s on our ir list, so we still got him.

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Not coming back this year.

He COULD come back this year (somewhere) if he does an "injury settlement" with the Panthers. That effectively releases him and turns him into a Free Agent where he could negotiate with any team. 

Truthfully, it would depend on the severity of his injury --- AND if he really wants to play.  He gets paid while he's on IR, So....