Normally right now the nation would be watching preseason NFL games and following how roster long-shots perform in their on-field opportunities, trying to project whether the players will the 53-man roster.
Now, without preseason games, the cuts still need to happen–this time, though, only based on what coaches saw during OTAs and training camp.
After two former Badgers–Dare Ogunbowale and Nick Nelson–were recently released by their NFL teams two more have joined the list: now-former Carolina Panthers Natrell Jamerson and Chris Orr.
#Panthers reduce roster to 53 players https://t.co/zdiIVYmY0a
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 5, 2020
Jamerson’s NFL path since the Saints took him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft has been a windy one, bouncing from the Saints, to the Texans, to the Packers and then to the Panthers in a span of only two seasons.
His best season of production was the 2018 season during which he played in a combined 12 games for two different teams and recorded 10 tackles and one pass defended.
Orr, on the other hand, was recently signed by the Panthers after the 2020 NFL Draft after absolutely dominating during his senior season in Madison.
The path towards making a roster as a late-round pick or undrafted free agent is undoubtably more challenging this year without the opportunity of preseason games and an overall shortened offseason.
The two players will now be placed on waivers and other teams will get a shot to land them before they become free agents. The most likely result of the process for both Jamerson and Orr is a spot on the Panthers’ practice squad where they’ll await another shot at the 53-man roster.