The Panthers announced today that they have waived defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. and promoted defensive back Cole Luke from the practice squad to take his place.
Cox flashed here and there as a backup these last few years, but he never found much playing time near the bottom end of a deep defensive line rotation. The team’s decision to bring back Wes Horton earlier in the week made him even more expendable. Cox totaled 17 combined tackles in 19 games with Carolina going back to the 2017 season.
Luke (5-foot-11, 198 pounds) played his college ball at Notre Dame, where he posted eight interceptions and 24 pass breakups in 42 games. He’s been on an off the practice squad a while and this is his first time getting promoted to the 53-man roster.
Whether or not Luke plays on Sunday will likely depend on the status of cornerback James Bradberry, who is listed as questionable with a groin injury and may be a game-time decision. Calling Luke up gives them more depth just in case.
