CHARLOTTE – The Panthers began moving toward Tuesday's required roster reduction by parting ways with wide receiver Stephen Hill, offensive tackle David Foucault and nine others Sunday.

The Panthers now have 79 players on their roster. They must reduce the roster to 75 by Tuesday at 4 p.m. and then cut it to 53 by Saturday at 4 p.m.

Hill, a second-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2013, has been with the Panthers since the Jets waived him prior to the 2014 season and the Panthers signed him to their practice squad. Hill spent the entire 2014 season on the practice squad and was pushing for a roster spot last season when he suffered a major knee injury in training camp that landed him on injured reserve.

Foucault is the one player cut who had played in a regular season game for the Panthers, having appeared in five games with one start as a rookie in 2014. Considered a project when the Panthers signed him after he was the No. 5 overall pick in the Canadian Football League draft, Foucault spent all but one game last season on the practice squad.

The Panthers also released recently signed offensive tackle Willie Smith. Hill and Smith had their contracts terminated, while the other nine players were waived.

Here is a complete list of Sunday's cuts:

• LB Jared Barber

• WR Avius Capers

• TE Braxton Deaver

• G Reese Dismukes

• DT Ray Drew

• OT David Foucault

• WR Stephen Hill

• DE Tom Lally

• C Matt Masifilo

• WR Miles Shuler

• OT Willie Smith