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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - NFL teams had to trim their rosters down to 53 players by 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Most teams entered the weekend with 90 players, meaning decisions had to be made on more than one-third of teams’ rosters.
One player who was perhaps a surprising cut by the Carolina Panthers was wide receiver Ja’seem Reed, who was a standout throughout training camp and the preseason.
Reed -- a second-year player out of the University of San Diego -- was on the Panthers’ practice squad in 2025, and seemed to have made a case for his spot on the team in 2026.
The 6-foot-2 receiver earned praise from Carolina quarterbacks during camp and the preseason, and caught two touchdown passes in three exhibition matchups.
Despite missing the Jaguars game due to injury, Reed was third on the team with 84 receiving yards across the Panthers’ preseason slate. Perhaps a problem for Reed was that fellow receiver John Metchie, who was also battling for a roster spot, led the team.
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If Reed clears waivers -- meaning no other team claims him -- he would be a strong candidate to come back on the practice squad.
With Reed cut, the Panthers will tentatively carry six receivers into the regular season, headlined by Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, with Xavier Legette, Jimmy Horn, Brycen Tremayne and Metchie behind them on the depth chart.
Other notable cuts the Panthers made include veteran wide receiver David Moore and 2024 third-round draft pick Trevin Wallace. Moore had followed Panthers coach Dave Canales from Seattle to Tampa Bay, then to Carolina. Meanwhile Wallace was unable to nail down the second starting inside linebacker position, which resulted in the Panthers signing Bobby Okereke on Aug. 29.
With the 53-man roster now mostly in shape, the Panthers will turn their sights to the regular season. Carolina will start the season with a home matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 13.
Training camp and preseason standout Ja'seem Reed was cut from the Panthers' initial 53-man...
Training camp and preseason standout Ja'seem Reed was cut from the Panthers' initial 53-man roster.