It was a busy Monday for all USFL teams as teams began making cuts in an effort to trim down their rosters to 50 players. The team also announced via twitter and removal of names of the Fox Sports website the release of five players as well. While the Michigan Panthers removed several players on Monday, they did sign former NDSU TE Josh Babicz to join Offensive Coordinator Eric Marty’s Offense.

Babicz joins a Tight End that currently staffs Kyle Markway, Cole Hikutini, and 2022 TE Marcus Baugh. After winning several National Championships at the FCS-Level with NDSU, Babicz became a UDFA in 2022, spending time with the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers over the 2022 NFL season. He was released by the Packers November 25th and has remain unsigned until joining the Michigan Panthers on April 3rd.

The Panthers also released five players that were officially released via twitter on April 4th. Most notably, was Linebacker Justin Hughes who spent the 2022 season with the team, totaling 18 tackles and 0.5 sack last season. The team also released Charles Williams, Api Mane, Talolo Limu-Jones, and La’Darius McElroy, all players who were signed or traded for during the offseason.

As the training camp progresses, USFL teams will continue to add and subtract, to get their rosters down to the coveted number 50, for opening kickoff. The Panthers who are scheduled to travel to Memphis to take on the Houston Gamblers in week one, look to rebound from their 2-8 record in 2022, and deliver some payback after losing to Houston last year 17-12.