Carolina Panthers Place OT Jeff Otah on Injured Reserve, Ending His Season

The Carolina Panthers have finally placed offensive tackle Jeff Otah on injured reserve after determining he will be unable to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery this season.

Otah had the surgery during training camp, and the team has held out hope that he would return this season, but at 1-7 and juggling quarterbacks and injured running backs, perhaps they felt there was no point in rushing him back.

Otah’s absence is likely a large part of the Panthers’ offensive woes in 2010.

Behind a healthy Otah, running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both posted 1,000-plus-yard rushing campaigns in 2009, and the two earned a reputation as the most dynamic one-two punch in the league.

In 2010, Williams has just 361 yards and one touchdown while Stewart only 208 yards and one score. Williams has missed two games with a sprained foot and Stewart left Sunday's game with a concussion.

Otah’s loss has been felt in the passing game as well, as protecting the quarterback has been an issue. Matt Moore was replaced by Jimmy Clausen after Moore suffered a concussion early this season.

Moore eventually returned to the starting role, but in Sunday's 34-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, leaving rookies Clausen and Tony Pike to battle for the position.

Otah was drafted 19th overall by the Panthers in the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of Pittsburgh. Given that he will have so much time to rehab before returning in 2011, likely for a new coach, as John Fox is in the last year of his contract, Otah should be a cog in the Panthers offense moving forward.

Meanwhile, the Panthers travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers, who defeated the Panthers in Carolina 20-7 in Week 2, Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT.

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