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Trevin Wallace and 6 Other Surprising Panthers' Deadline Cuts
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- Trevin Wallace and 6 Other Surprising Panthers' Deadline Cuts
It's been a busy 48 hours for the Carolina Panthers. The team wrapped up the preseason on Friday and has made a ton of roster moves since then.
On Saturday, the team agreed to a deal to bring in linebacker Bobby Okereke . Then, on Sunday, the team traded for TeRah Edwards right ahead of the cut deadline. Finally, the team was able to make the necessary moves to get down to just 53 players .
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There's still some shuffling that will be done over the next few days, but for the most part, this is the roster. Some of the guys who were cut will end up on the practice squad, but they have to clear waivers first.
Now, let's talk about the most surprising cuts the team made.
WR Ja'seem Reed
Ja'seem Reed was one of the biggest stars of the summer . Reed made catch after catch this summer and earned the praise of the coaching staff on several occasions. It seemed like Reed had done enough to make the team, but the team kept John Metchie III instead.
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Reed can be placed on the practice squad, but there's no guarantee the receiver won't get claimed. After how impressive he was this summer and how much he developed over the last year, it's a bit weird to see the Panthers risk losing him.
WR David Moore
David Moore was probably the hardest cut Canales had to make. The veteran receiver is a favorite of the coaching staff, but he just couldn't crack this deep receiver room.
Any other year, Moore would have been a lock. But with the way Horn, Metchie, and Tremayne performed, it just became impossible to keep him around.
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OL Jake Curhan
Jake Curhan seemed to have a real shot to make the team. The veteran has starting experience, and he's played both guard and tackle. With such a questionable backup tackle position, it's confusing why Curhan was cut.
It's even more surprising that the team kept 10 linemen and Curhan still wasn't one of them. Maybe Moton and/or Ekwonu will be back soon.
DL Elijah Garcia
When looking at the Panthers' position groups, it becomes apparent that the defensive line is not exactly deep. With Tershawn Wharton out for an unknown period of time, the depth is really not great, so it seemed like the perfect spot for a preseason standout.
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Elijah Garcia had a great summer, but it ended up not being enough. The team's trade for Edwards sealed Garcia's fate.
LB Trevin Wallace
Trevin Wallace was locked in a competition with Claudin Cherelus for the starting linebacker spot next to Devin Lloyd. Not only did Wallace not win the job, but he lost his roster spot completely.
The team's signing of Okereke meant Wallace wasn't going to start, but nobody expected it to mean Wallace was off the roster. This means the team is really counting on the veteran to come in and be a great fit. Cherelus and Kuwatch are the only backups.
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OLB Cam Gill
Cam Gill is another guy who had a great summer. The edge rusher dominated in the UFL this season and set the single-season sack record. He added a couple of sacks and a few pressures during the preseason, but it clearly wasn't enough.
Gill's spot went to Trevis Gipson, who had a great final preseason showing. I wouldn't be surprised if the team tried to keep Gill on the practice squad.
CB Corey Thornton
Like Wallace, Corey Thornton was fighting for a starting role, and now he's unemployed. Chau Smith-Wade clearly outplayed Thornton this summer, but it's surprising that the team didn't want to keep Thornton as a depth nickel option.
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Thornton is another player the team probably wants to keep around on the practice squad.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
