The Panthers added some veteran safety depth on Sunday, signing third-year pro Tom Nelson, the club said.
The move gives the Panthers six healthy safeties. A seventh safety, rookie Tre Boston, is on the active/physically unable to perform list.
The 27-year-old Nelson has played in 24 regular season games, with the bulk of his experience coming in 2009 and 2010 with Cincinnati, with whom he signed as an undrafted free agent five years ago. Nelson’s most extensive work came in 2009, when he recorded 25 tackles in 12 games (three starts) for the AFC North-winning Bengals.
In addition to his time with the Bengals (2009-2011), Nelson has had stints with the Eagles (2011-2012) and Bears (2013). Chicago released him at the end of the 2013 preseason.
The Panthers are at the 90-player roster limit.
