Panthers part ways with Jeff Otah

The Carolina Panthers worked to find a home for Jeff Otah but his troubled left knee prevented him from passing a physical with the New York Jets.

Since the trade for a conditional seventh-round pick was rescinded and Otah returned to Carolina, the Panthers have made the decision to release the former first-round draft pick.

Otah was a fine right tackle when he was healthy but the Panthers just could not count on him as he missed 31 of the last 35 regular-season games. Obviously, the knee remains a major hurdle for him to find work. The Chicago Bears had talked with the Panthers about a trade before the deal with the Jets was made.

The Panthers announced that they have signed cornerback Nate Ness to take the place of Otah on the roster.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune