Heinicke Earns Backup QB Job, DE Hall Cut, As Panthers Finalize Roster Before Season Opener

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Taylor Heinicke will back up Cam Newton at quarterback and 2017 third-round draft pick Daeshon Hall has been cut, as Carolina finalized its 53-man roster on Saturday.

Heinicke, who looked solid in the preseason, beat out Garrett Gilbert for the back up role.  Gilbert was waived on Saturday.

Daeshon Hall was among the notable cuts on Saturday.  The second year defensive end from Texas A&M played in one game in 2017 before knee surgery ended his season.  Hall may be added to the practice team if he is not claimed by another team.

Former Charlotte Catholic running back Elijah Hood was placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee in Carolina’s final preseason game against Pittsburgh.

The Panthers acquired offensive tackle Corey Robinson from the Detroit Lions in exchange for an undisclosed 2020 draft choice. Robinson played high school football in North Carolina and collegiately at the University of South Carolina.  He was selected by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Here is a look at the moves the Panthers made on Saturday:

Terminated Vested Veteran

Player                           Pos                   Exp.     College

Zach Moore                DE                     2            Concordia-St. Paul

Dezmen Southward S                        3            Wisconsin

Waived

Player                           Pos                   Exp.     College

Kyle Allen                    QB                    R           Houston

Kiante Anderson      DE                     R           East Carolina

Reggie Bonnafon      RB                     R           Louisville

Lorenzo Doss             CB                     4            Tulane

Austin Duke                WR                   1            Charlotte

Mose Frazier              WR                   1            Memphis

Kyle Friend                  C                       1            Temple

Garrett Gilbert          QB                    2            Southern Methodist

Daeshon Hall              DE                     2            Texas A&M

Taylor Hearn              G                       R           Clemson

Dorian Johnson         G                       1            Pittsburgh

Cole Luke                    CB                     2            Notre Dame

Kendrick Norton       DT                     R           Miami (Fla.)

Jason Vander Laan   TE                     1            Ferris State

Waived/Injured

Player                           Pos                   Exp.     College

Jamaal Jones              WR                   1            Montana

Injured/Reserve

Player                           Pos                   Exp.     College

Elijah Hood                 RB                     1            North Carolina

Kevon Seymour        CB                     3            Southern California

Jeremiah Sirles          T                        5            Nebraska