Robert McClain to Panthers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

On Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers announced they have signed free-agent cornerback Robert McClain. The figures of the deal have not been released.

The move came on the heels of placing cornerback Bene Benwikere on injured reserve after he fractured his leg. Benwikere was starting in place of veteran Charles Tillman, who suffered a knee injury that has sidelined him for the past four games. He ranked third on the Panthers with nine pass deflections this season.

According to the Charlotte Observer's Joe Person, the Panthers will have to see how Tillman's knee responds in practice on Wednesday before making a call on his playing status for Week 15 against the New York Giants. 

If he isn't ready to go, Person believes the Panthers might make another move in the secondary. 

McClain is making a return to the team that selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 draft. He spent one season in Carolina before three with the Atlanta Falcons. McClain has never started more than six games in a season and has three career interceptions.    

He entered the 2015 preseason with the New England Patriots, but they cut him right before the start of the regular season. 

With Tillman's status still in limbo, the Panthers have four healthy cornerbacks with Josh Norman, Cortland Finnegan, Teddy Williams and now McClain. 

But Norman, the team's best corner, is the only healthy option who has put up consistent numbers this season, with four interceptions, two touchdowns and 16 pass deflections.

Carolina signed the veteran Finnegan on Nov. 30 after Tillman went down. He has recorded six tackles in two games, while Williams has just three tackles and one pass deflection in 13 games this season. 

McClain simply helps the Panthers add another body to help with the depth chart, but he is a part of a group Carolina would hardly want to see patrolling the secondary beside Norman.

In pursuit of an undefeated season at 13-0 and, more importantly, a deep run in the playoffs, the secondary looks to be the team's weakest spot, which will give opposing teams something to hone in on moving forward. 

Carolina's first test will be the New York Giants and quarterback Eli Manning, who is coming off a 27-of-31 appearance for 337 yards and four touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.