Spartanburg, SC – The Carolina Panthers terminated the contract of tackle Jeff Otah on Thursday after he failed a physical.
Otah was traded to the Jets on July 23 for a conditional draft pick, but was sent back to Carolina after failing a physical with the team.
A first-round draft pick of Carolina in 2008, he missed all of 2010 and the last three games of 2009 after tearing the meniscus in his left knee.
He played in four of the first six games of 2011, but then landed back on injured reserve to further rehabilitate the knee.
"Anytime you let go of a player as talented as Jeff is, it's a hard decision," said Carolina general manager Marty Hurney. "But I think after he came back, talking to him and going through the last couple of days, he just doesn't feel like he's gotten over the injuries of the past two seasons and really doesn't know when he'll be ready."
Also on Thursday, the team signed cornerback Nate Ness. He has played in eight games over the past three season with Miami, Seattle and St. Louis. Last season he played with the Rams and saw action in four games.
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