STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers’ wide receiver competition is beginning to take shape.
The Panthers cut 10 players on Sunday, including wide receivers Tiquan Underwood, Marvin McNutt, Kealoha Pilares and Toney Clemons.
Carolina also released tackle Oscar Johnson, defensive linemen Lindon Gaydosh, Alex Hall and Craig Roh, linebacker Anthony Morales and punter Jordan Gay.
The Panthers signed Underwood to a two-year, $2.1 million contract this offseason that included a $300,000 signing bonus.
He was supposed to be the replacement for Ted Ginn Jr., who left via free agency for Arizona. However, Underwood failed to do much to impress the Panthers staff during training camp and the preseason.
“We saw the speed and we saw the route running, but we have to see a little more consistency,” Rivera said.
Pilares was a fifth-round pick by the Panthers in 2011 who has struggled with injuries and failed to show the explosiveness the team wanted. McNutt was on Carolina’s roster last season, although he never caught a pass in a regular-season game.
Rookie Kelvin Benjamin and veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant are considered locks to make the team at receiver. With four receivers being cut Sunday, that leaves youngsters Brenton Bersin, Tavarres King, Philly Brown and Marcus Lucas competing for what is likely to be two roster spots.
“We have some young guys that we have to get a lot more reps,” Rivera said.
Carolina’s roster stands at 79 players. They need to cut four players by Tuesday’s NFL deadline.
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