National Football League

Panthers add depth at linebacker by signing Nixon

Published Jul. 27, 2012 5:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Carolina have signed free agent linebacker David Nixon.

He replaces running back Armond Smith, who was waived a day before the Panthers announced Nixon's signing Friday.

Nixon participated in Carolina's three-day rookie minicamp as an invited tryout player in May. He's played for three different NFL teams since joining the league as an undrafted rookie out of Brigham Young in 2009. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker has played in 15 games for the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and St. Louis Rams.

Nixon gives the Panthers more flexibility, as they will continue to add more 3-4 defensive looks to go along with the base 4-3 defense they used most of last season.