There are only so many spots to go around at the start of the regular season – 53 to be exact. So, it should surprise no one that there are a few surprises during this particular weekend every year.
Here are four of those shockers, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers, in their 53-man roster cut-down for the 2019 campaign.
RB Cameron Artis-Payne terminated
Well, now we know an “honest look” officially lasts four years, three months and 28 days, at least according to coach Ron Rivera.
In the ongoing search for backfield depth behind the star Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers cut ties with their longest-tenured running back in Artis-Payne on Friday. The former fifth-round selection, plucked out of Auburn University in 2015, was set to enter his fifth regular-season stint with Carolina.
Artis-Payne’s four-season stay, a 32-game stretch where he wasn’t particularly great nor particularly bad, is what makes his departure relatively surprising given Rivera’s affinity for him.
Jordan Scarlett, Elijah Holyfield (later waived on Sunday) and Reggie Bonnafon – with a combined one year’s worth of pro experience between them – collectively helped push Artis-Payne off the roster with eye-opening summer performances. Bonnafon, undoubtedly the most versatile talent of the bunch, rushed for 4.6 yards per carry while also ending the preseason as the team’s leading receiver (139 yards) and kick returner (64 yards).
K Graham Gano placed on season-ending IR
Joey Slye relieving Gano of his kicking duties isn’t the shocker here. The real surprise is that Slye will likely be relieving Gano of all his kicking duties in 2019.
Gano’s injury to his planting knee has kept him out of activity since the beginning of training camp. Being that the Panthers did not include the 2017 Pro Bowler on their initial 53-man roster and decided to place him on the IR, he will not be eligible to return at any point this year.
While he wasn’t going to be at 100 percent for Week 1, Gano wasn’t originally expected to miss a significant amount of time, let alone the entire season. Carolina is in good hands (feet?) with Slye, though.
The 23-year-old rookie successfully converted on all four of his extra-point tries and seven of his eight field goal attempts, including a 59-yard shot against the Steelers this past Thursday. His lone miss came on a block.
WR/KR Terry Godwin waived
Nothing says “oops” in the NFL like a team cutting one of its draft picks.
This year’s No. 237 overall selection was an early favorite to earn starting punt returner duties. That forecast was quite evident throughout the preseason, when he racked up a team-leading 10 punt returns (seven more than the next closest returner) for a total of 117 yards.
Godwin’s standout moment came in the Panthers’ first exhibition matchup against the Bears. His 57-yard return near the start of the second half displayed his vision and anticipation as a ball carrier, two traits needed to succeed in this particular role.
That spot, as a result, is now very much up for grabs as six of the seven players to return a punt in 2018 are no longer on the roster. The only man who remains? D.J. Moore, whose standing as the likely No. 1 receiver should keep him clear of any additional injury risks.
But the real bummer in all of this? Godwin already had himself a Cam Newton-appointed nickname. Godspeed, Pudgy.
WR Torrey Smith released
While this may not have blindsided those who knew about Smith’s arduous road back from a knee injury, his release on Sunday still came as a jolt.
We all know how much Rivera values experience and familiarity – but wasn’t enough to save Smith. Plus, his championship pedigree, the respect he’s earned amongst his teammates and his active involvement in the community probably made this an even tougher choice for the organization.
Unfortunately, if you don’t have it, you don’t have it. He apparently has not been the same player since sustaining the troublesome injury last season, one in which he posted career-lows in games (11), receptions (17) and receiving yards (190).
Smith was ultimately passed up for two other receivers claimed on waivers on Sunday in Brandon Zylstra and Ray-Ray McCloud.
