Carolina Panthers to decide offensive tackle Jeff Otah’s future after physical– NFL News
It seems that Jeff Otah’s career is on the line as he prepares to give another physical at Carolina.
Carolina Panthers will decide what to do with Otah only after they see the results of the physical. This was announced by their general manager Marty Hurney after a night practice session on Wednesday, August 01, 2012. He said:
"We had a good meeting with him and then he went to get some physical stuff done tonight and he will have more tomorrow. We'll go from there. ... It will be finished (Thursday)."
Panthers were about to trade Otah to New York Jets last week, but he failed to clear the physical there. Therefore, the deal was called off and Otah came back to Panthers.
Otah had a 45-minute meeting with head coach Ron Rivera and Hurney after which he was asked to take another physical and conditioning test.
Otah will give test again on Thursday as the tests were not completed on Wednesday. The results of the tests will provide the statistics required to decide whether Otah will be put on the roster or placed on physically unable to perform list.
Otah’s career has been filled with injuries. He was drafted by Panthers in the first round of the 2008 draft.
He has missed 31 of the Panther’s last 35 games. Otah managed to play just four games last season before getting his left knee injured.
If Otah remains with Panthers, he will receive $1.1 million in the final year of his rookie contract. When Hurney was asked whether he had any idea about where things would end up, he said:
"Not until everything finishes up. Then we'll have a better sense."
Questions have been raised about whether Otah wants to continue playing in the league or not. Coach Rivera said of these questions:
"Oh yeah, he does. That was one of the questions we asked him. But it goes back to what's happening after the physical unfolds tomorrow."
The 6 foot 6, 340 pounds Otah can be traded or released by Panthers. However if they do keep Otah, Panthers will have to make sure that he remains fit throughout the season.
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