CHARLOTTE — The Panthers on Saturday reduced their roster to 53 players in advance of the 4 p.m. deadline, waiving 23 players and releasing two.

Notably, the Panthers waived running back Reggie Bonnafon. He played a heavy special teams role and rushed for 116 yards with a touchdown in 16 games last year.

All seven Panthers’ 2020 draft picks made the initial 53-man roster, along with three rookie undrafted free agents: punter Joseph Charlton, linebacker Sam Franklin, and defensive back Myles Hartsfield.

It’s important to remember the current roster isn’t “final.” The Panthers could make some moves over the next few days. For example, tight end looks like a position of need as there are only two on the roster (Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz), and Thomas is currently dealing with a toe injury.

The Panthers have two players on the reserve/COVID-19