Panthers release Paul Soliai

The Carolina Panthers have informed defensive tackle Paul Soliai they will release him on Tuesday, according to a tweet from agent David Canter. Soliai joined the Panthers last offseason, signing a two-year, $6.5 million contract. He played in 10 games for Carolina in 2016, starting once, and recording eight tackles and one fumble recovery.

Soliai was originally a fourth-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 2007, playing for the team through 2013. Over that span, he played in 99 games with 62 starts, working as both a nose tackle and a defensive tackle, tallying 160 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2011. He spent two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after leaving Miami and before joining the Panthers.

Soliai joins another former Dolphins defensive lineman, Jared Odrick, as a free agent, able to immediately sign with another team, after Odrick was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.