OT Jeff Otah fails New York Jets’ physical as trade with Carolina Panthers on hold – NFL News
It seems that the trade between New York Jets and Carolina Panthers will take more time than expected as offensive tackle Jeff Otah has failed to pass the team’s physical.
The deal will go through only if Otah passes the physical within the next seven days. Jets announced the news on Wednesday, July 25, 2012.
Jets have put Otah on physically unable to perform list. If Otah fails to clear the physical, Jets will have to face some problems in the offensive line.
Otah had an injury-plagued career with the Panthers. After playing just four out of last 35 games, Panthers decided to part ways with Otah.
Otah always had trouble with his left knee. Panthers will get a conditional seventh-round pick by the Jets if the deal is completed.
One thing is for certain that Otah will have to pass physical before he starts training with Jets.
The news about this trade recently emerged on Monday. Jets added Otah as a replacement for Wayne Hunter.
Otah’s failure to pass physical will give Hunter another shot at the starting spot. Although he is coming from a bad season, he has previously received backing for the starting role by Jets offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, who said:
"This guy is the starting right tackle. Until they tell me otherwise, until they ship him out of this building or until they shoot me dead in my office, that sonofagun is going to be the starting right tackle. And he's going to play well."
It will be interesting to see if Panthers will retain Otah if he fails physical. Panthers have enough depth in the offensive line which includes Bruce Campbell and Byron Bell.
Even if Otah passes the physical, Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan will face a tough challenge of keeping a player that has a long history of injuries.
Carolina Panthers drafted Otah in the first round of the 2008 draft. He managed to play just 29 games during his time with Panthers.
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