CHARLOTTE – The Panthers got down to their 53-man roster for the season opener on Tuesday, submitting 27 trades to the league office.
Included in that number was Zane Gonzalez being placed on injured reserve, officially ending the 27-year-old kicker’s season.
Gonzalez suffered a groin injury while warming up on the sideline during Friday’s preseason finale against the Bills. He comes at an unfortunate time for him and them, as the kicking game was stabilized here when he arrived last season, and he had hit 17 straight field goals before he was injured in pregame warmups at Buffalo in December.
This offseason, the Panthers signed Gonzalez to a two-year contract before he hit free agency, making it a priority to keep him around.
Tuesday’s cuts included several veterans, including wide receiver/special teams Brandon Zylstra, safety Juston Burris, and wide receiver Keith Kirkwood. Linebacker Julian Stanford was also placed on injured reserve.
Zylstra (who also filled in as a backup quarterback last year when Gonzalez was injured in Buffalo) was in a deep position group, made even deeper by Monday’s acquisition of former Jaguars second-round pick Laviska Shenault Jr.
Burris, who started at safety last year, was replaced in the first group by free agent pick Xavier Woods.
The Panthers also waived the following players to reach the cap: running backs Spencer Brown and John Lovett; Derek Wright, C.J. Saunders, Charleston Rambo, and Ra’Shaun Henry; tight ends Colin Thompson and Josh Babicz, offensive linemen Deonte Brown, Mike Horton, and Sam Tecklenburg; defensive ends Austin Larkin, Drew Jordan, and Darryl Johnson; defensive tackle Frank Herron; linebackers Josh Watson, Arron Mosby, and Isaiah Graham-Mobley; cornerbacks Tae Hayes, Kalon Barnes, and Madre Harper; and safety Kenny Robinson.
— K Zane Gonzalez (injured reserve)
— LB Julian Stanford (injured reserve)
— RB Spencer Brown (waiver-injured)
— LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley (waiver-injured)
The Panthers will likely make more moves in the coming days to adjust the roster, and will be able to form a 16-man practice squad on Wednesday, which will likely include many of the names above.
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
CB – 23 – Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
CB – 23 – Stantley Thomas-Oliver III
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Angela Denogean/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers
