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Michigan Panthers Drop 15 Players from Roster, Including Former All-USFL Safety

Along with the rest of the league, the Michigan Panthers released multiple players as part of the first round of cuts on Sunday.

The Michigan Panthers have made it to the halfway point of training camp, as 15 of their players were waived by the team Sunday to reach the league-mandated 58-man roster.

Here is the full list of players that are no longer with the Panthers:

  • DT Damion Daniels
  • LB Isaac Darkangelo
  • CB Keandre Evans
  • TE Nick Guggemos
  • WR Lance Lenoir
  • QB Brian Lewerke
  • S Shalom Luani
  • WR Garett Maag
  • K Cole Murphy
  • OT Denzel Okafor
  • S Jamal Perry
  • S Cory Rahman
  • S Warren Saba
  • OT Phil Saleh
  • OT LaColby Tucker

The quarterback position for Michigan becomes clearer with former Michigan State signal caller Lewerke waived by the team. This leaves Davis Cheek, Danny Etling and E.J. Perry all in the running for the job.

Lenoir was another key offensive player released. He was a difference-maker for the Panthers in 2022, catching 52 passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns. Last year, he was in the XFL with the Orlando Guardians and hauled in nine receptions for 99 yards.

Michigan’s secondary had two safeties who are not on the team anymore who could be targets for the other seven UFL teams. Former All-USFL selection Luani and Panthers starter Saba were part of the releases. Luani has played the past two years with the New Jersey Generals, making 76 tackles and six interceptions in the USFL, while Saba contributed 31 tackles and two interceptions last season for Michigan.

An especially surprising release was that of Murphy, who held the position of kicker for Michigan the past two seasons. Murphy made 83.3 percent of his career USFL field goals, converting 25 of 30 kicks. Former Arkansas kicker Jake Bates is the only remaining kicker on the roster.

UFL teams will have to make their final roster cutdowns by March 23.

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