Jason La Canfora live chat
NFL Network's Jason La Canfora was asked during his weekly chat what the Panthers can do to fix their 0-3 start to the season. Filling the void left by the injury to Maake Kemoeatu is still an issue for the Panthers.
"They need to protect the football, keep it on the ground and try to plug up the run defense, but when you lose the kind of defensive tackles they have lost the past two years, it's awful hard to replace them on the fly." **Transcript ...**
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hollis Thomas has signed with the Carolina Panthers, another move made by a struggling team that's trying to fill its void at defensive tackle.
Rookie defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris was released Thursday to make roster room for Thomas, who was let go by the St. Louis Rams the previous day.
Thomas was a reserve in three games for St. Louis this season and made four tackles. He provides another option for winless Carolina, which has been unable to effectively replace Maake Kemoeatu, who was lost for the season in training camp with a torn Achilles' tendon.
The Panthers also lost backup Louis Leonard to a season-ending broken ankle in Week 2. Second-year pro Nick Hayden started in Monday's loss to Dallas.
Harris was claimed off waivers last month after being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
