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The rules said the Carolina Panthers had to cut to 53 players. They didn't stop there.

Ready to pluck players off the waiver wire to fill a glaring need at defensive tackle, the Panthers reduced their roster to 51 players on Saturday. The moves included putting third-round pick Corvey Irvin on injured reserve and waiving fellow defensive tackle Marlon Favorite.

"We just decided that we were going to have two spots there and look to fill them," general manager Marty Hurney said.

Hurney revealed Irvin tore the medial collateral ligament in his knee in Thursday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh. He was expected to provide depth at a position where the Panthers have few options.

Favorite, an undrafted rookie, had seen some time as a starter after Maake Kemoeatu ruptured his Achilles' tendon on the first day of training camp. The Panthers have also used Nick Hayden there and acquired Louis Leonard from Cleveland on Tuesday.

Carolina could also use one of its open roster spots on a punt returner. Rookie Larry Beavers, one of three Panthers to fumble punts Thursday, was waived, leaving Kenny Moore and Captain Munnerlyn on the depth chart.

Mark Jones, Carolina's return man last season, is available after being released by Tennessee. The Panthers again kept kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, who had an NFL-high 30 touchbacks last season. Carolina also kept an extra fullback, fourth-round pick Tony Fiammetta, who didn't come to close to taking starter Brad Hoover's job.

Only four receivers are on the roster, while defensive end Hilee Taylor made the team despite a quiet preseason.

Jeremy Leman, one of the surprising stars of the preseason, was cut along with Mortty Ivy, giving Carolina just six linebackers.

Other players let go were quarterback Hunter Cantwell; running backs DeCori Birmingham and Jamall Lee; receivers Jason Chery, Kevin McMahan and Marcus Monk; tight end Andrew Davie; offensive linemen Patrick Brown, Justin Geisinger, Keith Gray and Jonathan Palmer; defensive lineman George Hypolite and Casper Brinkley; linebackers Anthony Heygood and Kelvin Smith; safeties Kevin Kaesviharn, Paul Chiara and Joe Fields; and cornerback D.J. Clark.

REDSKINS: The winner between the two ex-Heisman Trophy contenders battling for Washington's third-string quarterback job? Try "none of the above."

The Redskins planned to put Chase Daniel on injured reserve because of hip and hamstring injuries, according to the team's Web site. Meanwhile, his competition for the job, Colt Brennan, announced via Twitter that he was one of the final roster cuts and might get a place on the practice squad.

ELSEWHERE: David Tyree has gone from Super Bowl hero to unemployed hero.

Tyree was released by the New York Giants that also featured a late trade, with backup tight end Michael Matthews, another Super Bowl veteran, being shipped to the New England Patriots for a conditional draft pick.

Veteran running back Dominic Rhodes was released by the Buffalo Bills, who continued shaking up their offense a day after firing coordinator Turk Schonert.

Rex Grossman's performance in Houston's final preseason game not only earned him a spot on the final roster, it gave him a chance to be the Texans' backup quarterback.

Grossman missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. He returned Friday night to throw two touchdown passes in Houston's 27-20 win over Tampa Bay and survive the last round of cuts.

Running back Danny Woodhead has made the New York Jets. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Woodhead made a strong case after running for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the preseason finale against Philadelphia on Thursday night.

In contrast, John David Booty made a poor throw at the worst possible time.

A day after having an interception returned for a touchdown in the preseason finale against Dallas, Booty was among the final cuts for the Minnesota Vikings, leaving the team with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels behind starter Brett Favre.