Panthers Cut Veteran Defender Just One Day After Cardinals Win

The Carolina Panthers won their fourth game of the season on Sunday by defeating the Arizona Cardinals in overtime and officially doubled their win total from a season ago. Even though the Panthers didn't play at the level their fans hoped for all season, there have been significant improvements throughout the year. Plus, this Panthers season was always about development and evaluation.

That will continue to be the case in the final two games of the season against the Buccaneers and the Falcons. So, the Panthers are making roster moves with 2025 and beyond in their mind. On Monday, the team waived defensive end Jonathan Harris, who recovered a fumble against the Cardinals on Sunday.

NFL News: Panthers Waive Jonathan Harris

This is a surprising development since Harris has played at least 10% of defensive snaps in each of Carolina's last seven games, and had one of his best outings in Week 16. Per PFF, Harris finished with a 59.7 defensive grade in 14 snaps.

Harris was signed off the Miami Dolphins practice squad during the season and played 133 defensive snaps with the team. In this span, he had 10 tackles, a QB hit, and a fumble recovery. It turns out it wasn't enough for the former Broncos defender to prove his worth to the team.

What the Panthers will do with the new roster spot remains to be seen. There are now 52 active players on the roster, signaling a move later in the week. They will likely use it on a player who they see more as a part of their 2025 plans.

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