After playing in the past three games as a practice-squad elevation, outside linebacker Eku Leota was signed to the Carolina Panthers’ 53-player active roster on Monday.

Each NFL team can elevate two of its 16 practice-squad members to active status for each game. The Panthers did that with Leotu for each of their past three contests.

But NFL rules limit the number times a practice-squad player can be elevated in a season to three, so for Leota to continue playing for Carolina, he had to be a member of the active roster.

Now Leota is, and the former Auburn standout will be eligible to play against the Dallas Cowboys at noon CST Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Leota made his NFL debut in the Panthers’ 15-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Oct. 29 with six defensive snaps and eight special-teams plays. In a 27-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 5, he had six defensive snaps and 12 special-teams plays.

On Thursday, in Carolina’s 16-13 loss to the Chicago Bears, Leota got on the field for 32 defensive snaps and 14 special-teams plays. He recorded three tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

Leota started in 2021 and 2022 at Auburn after transferring from Northwestern.

Leota signed with Carolina in May as an undrafted rookie. Released by the Panthers when they reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit, Leota re-signed with Carolina for practice-squad duty after clearing waivers.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.