Panthers cut David Moore for roster spot

The financials of the deal were not immediately made available. Moore managed only four appearances for the Panthers in 2025 due to a serious elbow injury and was made a healthy inactive for the team’s Wild Card loss to the Rams. Familiarity with head coach Dave Canales and his veteran presence in the locker room were enough to warrant a new contract, although he is likely to play behind Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker.

No real surprises from one of the healthier teams entering the postseason as the Panthers attempt to knock off the Rams at home as 10-point underdogs. It is the franchise’s first home playoff game since 2015.

Renfrow, who was a big part of the Carolina passing offense in the season’s first couple weeks, hasn’t been active since mid-October. He ends the season with 25 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns, operating mostly from the slot. Renfrow, who has 103 catches for the Raiders in 2021, will likely catch on with a receiver-needy team this offseason.

The veteran wideout has been on injured reserve since the end of September with a serious elbow injury, but could return for the postseason as the Panthers prepare to take on the heavily-favored Rams this weekend. The Panthers in a corresponding move waived veteran journeyman Hunter Renfrow, who had 25 receptions for 255 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina in 2025.

Rookie sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn — you may remember him as Travis Hunter’s Colorado teammate — will get a chance to ply his trade in Moore’s absence, with Dave Canales saying he wants to “make sure he’s able to go out there and give us significant reps. We’ll carve out a role because there’s certainly things he can bring to our offense with his speed and ability to carry the ball and make yards.” Horn could make an interesting pickup in deeper leagues right now with Hunter Renfrow not exactly blossoming last week.

Filling in for an injured Xavier Legette (hamstring), Moore injured his elbow in gruesome fashion on the game’s opening series. It further thins the Panthers’ already nonexistent receiver depth, but it has little ripple effect in fantasy football. Moore is likely looking at a stint on injured reserve.

Tremayne got some early looks in the Panthers’ offense, catching Bryce Young’s first two completions of the game. He was not seen from again as the Panthers went run-heavy with the lead later on. The 25-year-old has been consistently getting 15-20 snaps per game and could see more run if Xavier Legette remains out long-term. Veteran David Moore started in Legette’s place, but caught just one pass for five yards. Neither Moore or Tremayne are fantasy-relevant regardless of Legette’s status.

Moore had a career season in 2024, managing a 32/351/3 receiving line after last being targeted more than 40 times in 2020. The veteran enters his age-30 season as Carolina’s No. 4 receiver behind Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker. It’s possible that the Panthers will draft a receiver and give him even more roster spot competition. Moore has the special teams chops to hang on the back of a 53-man roster if needed, so this seems like a signing without any real downside for Carolina.

Moore ends the season with 32 receptions for 353 yards over 16 games, five of which he started and had a role in the Carolina passing offense. A journeyman wideout who hadn’t been on the fantasy radar since 2020 with the Seahawks, Moore was a somewhat reliable target for Bryce Young in an offense without much in the way of pass-catching threats. Moore, 29, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

With Xavier Legette (hip) out, Moore remained part of the Panthers’ regular targets rotation. The score was his second in five games. Good for Moore, but not terribly relevant for fantasy managers even heading into a plus Week 17 matchup with the Bucs.