CHARLOTTE — The Panthers on Saturday activated cornerback Eli Apple from the reserve/injured list to the 53-man roster in advance of the Week 4 matchup with the Cardinals.
Apple went on IR at the start of the regular season after he battled through ankle, foot, and hamstring injuries during training camp.
Carolina signed Apple to a one-year deal in the spring. A former first-round pick out of Ohio State, Apple has played 55 career games with 48 starts. He's registered 33 passes defensed and three interceptions since entering the league in 2016.
Apple will likely figure in the Panthers' cornerbacks rotation with Donte Jackson, Rasul Douglas, and Troy Pride Jr.. Jackson has started all three games this season. Since being claimed off waivers in Week 1, Douglas has played 90 percent of Carolina's defensive snaps and started the last two games.
As a corresponding move, the Panthers waived defensive end Shareef Miller, who was claimed off waivers from the Eagles in September. Miller did not appear in a game during the season's first three weeks.
Additionally, the Panthers are activating running back Reggie Bonnafon and linebacker Chris Orr from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
The club used this roster mechanism last week, and Bonnafon took a pair of carries for 16 yards in the victory over Los Angeles. Because this is Bonnafon's second activation, he'll need to be added to the 53-man roster in order to appear in another game this season. Orr signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin in the spring. Sunday will represent his NFL debut.
Carolina is 14-6 all-time against the Cardinals, including a 2-1 record in the playoffs.