Panthers acquire OT Robinson; keep Heinicke as backup QB

The Carolina Panthers have worked out a trade to acquire offensive tackle Corey Robinson from the Detroit Lions. The Panthers announced Saturday that they will send a seventh-round conditional draft pick in 2020 to Detroit in exchange for Robinson. Taylor Heinicke beat out Garrett Gilbert to be Carolina's No. 2 quarterback behind Cam Newton, the Panthers announced, as they reduced their roster to 53 players. Gilbert entered training camp listed as the top backup on the depth chart. The Panthers have been ravaged by injuries along its offensive line and needs depth at the position. Robinson has played right tackle and left guard during his three seasons with the Lions. A seventh-round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of the University of South Carolina, Robinson has started eight games in his career, including a career-high five in 2017. Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil's status for the beginning of the season is murky. The team announced on Aug. 21 that Kalil would undergo arthroscopic surgery on right knee and be evaluated on a weekly basis. Carolina shifted Taylor Moton from right to left tackle and moved Jeremiah Sirles to right tackle but Sirles suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve Saturday. In addition, Panthers starting right tackle Daryl Williams sustained a dislocated kneecap and an MCL sprain early in training camp while left guard Amini Silatolu had to undergo surgery on a torn meniscus. In other moves, four-year veteran Lorenzo Doss lost his battle for the final cornerback spot to Corn Elde while third-year cornerback Kevon Seymour joined Sirles on IR. To get down to 53 players the Panthers also waived quarterback Kyle Allen, defensive end, Kiante Anderson and Daeshon Hall, running back Reggie Bonnafon, cornerbacks Lorenzo Doss and Cole Luke, wide receivers Austin Duke, Jamaal Jones and Mose Frazier, center Kyle Friend, guards Taylor Hearn and Dorian Johnson and defensive tackle Kendrick Norton. Carolina also terminated the contracts of defensive end Zach Moore and safety Dezmen Southward, and placed running back Elijah Hood on injured reserve.