CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers released Ryne Robinson on Monday, just over two years after taking him in the fourth-round with hopes he'd become the team's long-term answer at kickoff and punt returner.
After spending last season on injured reserve with a slow-healing knee injury, Robinson was unable to retain his returner jobs in the preseason and fell behind Kenny Moore in the competition for the No. 4 receiver job.
"It was just a matter of what we felt was best for the team at this time," coach John Fox said. "This gives him an opportunity, a little earlier, to seek employment elsewhere."
The Panthers also waived little-used defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams and tackle Gerald Cadogan. Guard C.J. Davis was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered early in training camp.
The team must cut one more player by Tuesday afternoon to get to the 75-player limit. The deadline to reach the 53-man regular-season limit is Saturday.
After ranking last in the NFL in punt and kickoff returns in 2006, the Panthers used a draft pick on the 5-foot-9 Robinson, who racked up 1,677 punt return yards at Miami of Ohio, second most in NCAA history.
Robinson got off to a slow start but showed promise late in his rookie year, returning a punt 34 yards and a kickoff 42 yards against Dallas.
But Robinson sprained two ligaments in his left knee early in training camp last year. He healed slower than expected and was placed on injured reserve Oct. 8.
Although the Panthers didn't re-sign his replacement, Mark Jones, Robinson faced stiff competition coming into this year's training camp and quickly fell on the depth chart.
Rookie Mike Goodson become the No. 1 kickoff returner and rookie Captain Munnerlyn the top punt returner. Robinson didn't help his cause by letting a punt bounce off his chest late in the fourth quarter of an exhibition loss to Miami.
Hoping to get into the receiver rotation, Robinson was outplayed by Moore, who leads the team with six catches for 76 yards and has also returned punts. Robinson's release likely guarantees a roster spot for Moore, a Charlotte native who starred at Wake Forest and has been one of the few bright spots in Carolina's preseason.
"I don't know what my spot on the team is yet," Moore said. "We still have cuts yet to do, and there are 31 other teams out there who'll be cutting wide receivers as well. So I just have to keep competing all the way until the 53-man roster has been decided.
"It gives you a little comfort, a little less anxiety, but it's a performance-based business. I have to come in and make plays every day."
The Panthers practiced again Monday without linebacker Jon Beason (knee) and safeties Charles Godfrey (hand) and Nate Salley (knee). Running back Jonathan Stewart, who hasn't practiced or played since Aug. 10 because of pain his left Achilles' tendon, was absent Monday for what Fox called a personal matter.
Second-round pick and safety Sherrod Martin missed practice with a bruised knee. Reserve running back DeCori Birmingham, woozy after making a tackle Saturday, also sat out.
Tabasco Kat 
