CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Running back Brandon Wegher has been living out of a suitcase in the Holiday Inn since the Carolina Panthers signed him in May as an undrafted rookie out of Morningside College.

Today he moves into an apartment.

Wegher began searching for a more permanent home when he survived final cuts on Saturday. He understands there’s a lot more work to do, but he feels confident enough that he purchased furniture.

“I didn’t know shopping was that hard," Wegher said with a laugh.

But it’s a lot easier than looking for a job outside of football. Until 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, when Wegher walked into the team meeting room at Bank of America Stadium, he wasn’t sure if he had a place on the 53-man roster.

“When they didn’t call my name to go upstairs I thought, ‘Maybe they missed me,'" Wegher said. “Then I went to the team meeting and I was still there, so things were all good."

Wegher’s 4-year-old son will remain in South Dakota, where his fiancée is in school studying to be a doctor in audiology.

“I told her she can’t give that up," Wegher said.

The Panthers didn’t give up on Wegher because they liked his potential as an every-down back and his special teams play.

He was kept over veteran Jordan Todman, who was signed during the offseason to be the kickoff returner and add depth at running back.

Because the Panthers had Ted Ginn Jr. and Fozzy Whittaker as returners, and because Todman was looked at as more of a third-down back, Wegher got the nod.

“He can become an every down back," coach Ron Rivera said. ‘He did all those things you’re looking for in a running back. He was dynamic with the football. He blocked.

“Even when he wasn’t supposed to block he blocked, which was good. That’s a whole other story."

Wegher’s story is intriguing to say the least. He went from Iowa to Oklahoma to Iowa Western Community College to Morningside in Sioux City, Iowa.

Along the way there were academic and legal issues, including an arrest in Akron, Iowa, for domestic abuse involving his brother.

But after scoring three preseason touchdowns and helping to stage fourth-quarter comebacks in the first two preseason games, Wegher became popular on social media among Carolina fans.

“Because I’m an underdog," Wegher said. “People love the underdog."

But the Panthers didn’t keep the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Wegher to play behind Jonathan Stewart, Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne because he’s a good story. They kept him because they were afraid of losing him if exposed on the waiver wire.

“Being a young, dynamic football player, it was hard to risk putting him out there and bringing him back to make the practice squad," Rivera said.

Rivera also reminded how the running game struggled early last season with DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert and Stewart plagued by injuries.

Wegher and Artis-Payne, who led the SEC in rushing last season at Auburn, have shown the potential to carry the load should something happen to Stewart. Whittaker offers a good change of pace as a third-down back.

Tolbert, who plays fullback and halfback, is healthy.

“I think they kept me because I have a huge upside," Wegher said. “I work hard, I have a good attitude and I’m a team player. They see the potential I can bring this team.

“It’s a good feeling, but I know the work is nowhere near complete."