Panthers Sign Smith as Davis Joins IR

Linebacker Thomas Davis suffered a season-ending knee injury last weekend during the Carolina Panthers’ loss to the New Orleans Saints, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the game. He has since been officially placed on the injured reserve, and the Panthers opted this week to sign linebacker Kelvin Smith off the practice squad to fill Davis’ spot on the team’s roster.

Smith has been drifting around the NFL since 2007, when he was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the draft. He played in only four games as a rookie, however, before suffering a knee injury that put him out for the rest of the season. He was waived by the New York Giants after training camp this year, signed by the Panthers thereafter. Smith joins the Panthers’ crew of linebackers in line after Landon Johnson, who will likely start at linebacker for Carolina in the absence of Thomas Davis.

Landon Johnson is a product of Purdue University who has been in the league since 2004, when he joined the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson became a Panther in 2008 and has posted seven tackles so far this season.

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