Stevie Brown to Panthers: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Carolina Panthers agreed to a one-year contract with veteran safety Stevie Brown on Wednesday in an attempt to shore up their secondary before the regular season. 

Brown's signing was announced on the Panthers' official website.

Brown, 29, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 25.

Brown has not played in an NFL game since 2014. He sat out the entire 2015 season after being released by the Houston Texans and New York Giants. He previously played for the Giants from 2012 to 2014, preceded by stints with the Oakland Raiders, Panthers and Indianapolis Colts.

"Missing last year was kind of a blessing," Brown told reporters in April. "It allowed me to get healthy and get everything right."

Hanging on the edge of NFL rosters for most of his career, Brown was forced into extended duty in 2012 and 2014. He shockingly broke out in 2012 by recording eight interceptions in 11 starts, but a torn ACL in 2013 slowed his trajectory. While he played in all 16 games in 2014, he started only eight and failed to record an interception.

The odds of Brown suddenly breaking back out are slim. He's a veteran who didn't play at all last year and had only one effective NFL season. But as a backup who can spell players occasionally, Brown should be fine.

Carolina has quality starters at safety in Kurt Coleman and Tre Boston, but with Dean Marlowe, Marcus Ball and Travell Dixon all dealing with injuries, depth has been an issue.

It is unclear how taking a year off will impact Brown's performance on the field, but as long as he isn't tasked with doing too much, he could prove to be a quality addition in terms of providing veteran insurance.