Updated Panthers free-agent tracker: Carolina brings back veteran DE Henry Anderson

The Panthers are bringing back a familiar face to fill out their new-look defensive front under new coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Carolina agreed to terms on a one-year contract to bring back defensive end Henry Anderson, according to a league source. Anderson, 31, originally joined the Panthers last season.

Anderson appeared in 11 games and produced 18 tackles last year. The veteran defender was forced to miss six games after suffering what he called a “minor stroke” ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Anderson eventually returned to the lineup for the final five games of the season without issue.

While Anderson played in the previous regime’s 4-3 defense last season, he has plenty of experience in 3-4 fronts. He played in an odd front during his three-year stint with the New York Jets from 2018 to 2020.

Anderson will team with former first-round pick Derrick Brown and free-agent additions Shy Tuttle and DeShawn Williams to help fortify the new defensive line under new position coach Todd Wash.

Here is a look at the comings and goings of Panthers free agency so far:

Internal free agents

▪ K Eddy Piñeiro

▪ S Sam Franklin (RFA)

▪ DT Matthew Ioannidis

▪ WR Rashard Higgins

▪ S Juston Burris

▪ CB T.J. Carrie

▪ S Sean Chandler

▪ OT Cameron Erving

▪ WR Andre Roberts

▪ LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

▪ G Michael Jordan

Re-signed

▪ C Bradley Bozeman

▪ LS JJ Jansen

▪ TE Giovanni Ricci

▪ TE Stephen Sullivan

▪ DE Henry Anderson

Headed elsewhere

▪ QB Sam Darnold (to 49ers)

▪ QB PJ Walker (to Bears)

▪ RB D’Onta Foreman (to Bears)

▪ S Myles Hartsfield (to 49ers)

▪ LB Cory Littleton (to Texans)

Signed

▪ S Vonn Bell (from Bengals)

▪ DT Shy Tuttle (from Saints)

▪ QB Andy Dalton (from Saints)

▪ TE Hayden Hurst (from Bengals)

▪ RB Miles Sanders (from Eagles)

▪ DT DeShawn Williams (from Broncos)

▪ WR Adam Thielen (from Vikings)

▪ G Justin McCray (from Texans)

Released

▪ C Pat Elflein

▪ LB Damien Wilson

Restructured

▪ OT Taylor Moton

▪ G Austin Corbett

▪ S Xavier Woods

▪ P Johnny Hekker

▪ TE Ian Thomas

▪ CB Donte Jackson

Traded

▪ WR DJ Moore (to the Bears)

Extended

▪ LB Shaq Thompson

Mike Kaye

The Charlotte Observer

Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription