The Carolina Panthers released receiver Jarrett Boykin Tuesday morning, according to a league source.

Through three preseason games, Boykin led the team with nine receptions for 93 yards, but that was on 19 targets.

A Charlotte native, Boykin was on the roster bubble, but his release during the first round of cuts is a surprise. The Panthers may have let him go a few days early to give him a better chance to land with another team.

The 25-year-old had just three receptions for 23 yards with the Packers last season when he lost his No. 3 job to rookie Davante Adams. It was a big step back after Boykin had a breakout season a year earlier with 49 catches, 681 yards, and three touchdowns.

Boykin’s release is a good sign for Brenton Bersin’s bid to earn a spot for another season.

Kevin Norwood, who the Panthers acquired in a trade from the Seahawks on Monday, spent most of his time with assistant receivers coach Cam Turner early in Tuesday’s practice.

The Panthers need to make seven moves by 4 p.m. to reach the NFL’s mandatory 75-man limit. One of those will be placing receiver Kelvin Benjamin on injured reserve.

After coach Ron Rivera’s comments Monday, it sounded like safety Colin Jones was also in danger of going on IR, but he’s practicing Tuesday for the first time in nearly two weeks.

But cornerback Melvin White’s fate has already been decided, according to a source. White, who started 17 games the past two seasons, plus the 2013 playoff game against the 49ers, tweeted Tuesday:

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