CHARLOTTE – The Panthers have re-signed defensive tackle Sione Fua, a third-round draft choice in 2011, after waiving him in the final roster cutdown on Aug. 31.
Fua takes the roster spot of offensive lineman Garry Williams, who has been placed on injured reserve. Williams started at right guard in last Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks and suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the first quarter. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
With nine other offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, including four players that primarily play guard, the Panthers could afford to shore up another position following the loss of Williams. They opted to add a fifth defensive tackle in Fua, who played in 24 games with 12 starts from 2011-12 with the Panthers. He recorded 32 tackles, one forced fumble and one quarterback pressure while lining up primarily over the opposing center.
The Panthers also added an offensive lineman to their practice squad Wednesday, signing guard Michael Jasper.
Jasper, a 6-4, 375-pounder, was drafted by Buffalo in the seventh round of the 2011 draft and spent much of his rookie season on the Bills practice squad. He didn't land on a regular season roster in 2012 but attended training camp with the New York Giants this year before being waived in the cutdown to 75.
Carolina also re-signed practice squad defensive tackle Casey Walker, who had been terminated from the unit along with center Garth Gerhart on Tuesday.
