The Carolina Panthers announced they had terminated the contract of defensive lineman Anthony Goodlow on Monday, releasing him from the practice squad in a corresponding roster move.
The team simultaneously signed defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. to the practice squad, according to the club’s official transactions announcement.
Goodlow, a 6-foot-5, roughly 283- to 300-pound defensive end/tackle, had joined the Panthers’ practice squad on Sept. 1 after clearing waivers following his release by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of August.
His brief stint in Carolina produced no regular-season snaps or statistics, as he remained on the developmental roster throughout September and early October.
The 26-year-old (born July 25, 2000) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 after playing college football at Tulsa and Oklahoma State.
He spent time on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad later that year and into 2025, earning three elevations to the active roster.
In those limited appearances he recorded three combined tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. Goodlow later joined the Steelers’ practice squad in November 2025, signed a reserve/future contract the following January, and appeared in preseason action before being waived in late August 2026.
In Pittsburgh’s preseason, he logged six tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit across three games, showcasing the pass-rush upside that has kept him on the NFL radar despite never securing a consistent 53-man roster spot.
Over The Cap lists his most recent practice-squad contract with Carolina at a base salary of $247,500 for 2026 with no remaining guarantees after the release.
The corresponding addition of Cooper, a 23-year-old former undrafted free agent who has bounced between the Lions, Browns and Dolphins, gives the Panthers a slightly younger interior defensive line option.
Cooper appeared in three games for Miami earlier in 2026 and recorded one tackle before being released.
Goodlow’s release is a standard practice-squad transaction that creates an opening for another developmental prospect while freeing the veteran lineman to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
With limited regular-season production but consistent preseason flashes and size, he remains a candidate for practice-squad or reserve roles with other clubs as the 2026 season progresses.
The Panthers continue to refine their defensive line depth behind their active roster as they navigate the middle of the campaign.
