With Tuesday afternoon's league-mandated deadline approaching, the Carolina Panthers on Sunday started to make moves to whittle their roster down to 75 players.

Of the 11 players let go, the biggest name was Stephen Hill, who was trying to come back from a devastating knee injury.

The Panthers were excited about the former second-round pick's progress last summer, but Hill tore three knee ligaments and his hamstring during the first weekend of training camp. He then spent much of the past year rehabbing alongside fellow wideout Kelvin Benjamin.

From the time the Panthers reported to training camp last month, it was clear Hill was struggling to run on his surgically repaired knee. He played just 37 snaps in three preseason games, including eight on Friday against the Patriots, the fewest among Carolina's receivers.

“Stephen came in and did the best he could under the circumstances,” coach Ron Rivera said. “I’m just real proud of who he was for us and the effort he gave us. He gave us everything he had.”