Panthers Release OT Jeff Otah

The Carolina Panthers released OT Jeff Otah.

This comes just days after the trade with the Jets was voided because of Otah’s inability to pass a physical. He’s still only 26-years-old, so there’s a chance that he could catch on with someone once proves that he’s healthy.

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Jason LaCanfora reports that OT Jeff Otah will report to Panthers training camp on Wednesday. La Canfora adds that the Panther may give him extra time to pass both his physical and conditioning tests.

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The New York Jets have made the decision to void their recent trade for OT Jeff Otah after he failed another physical today, according to Manish Mehta. Otah will now return to the Carolina Panthers.

The deal was supposed to give the Jets some additional help at the right tackle position, but Otah came with a pretty serious history of injuries, so it’s not exactly shocking that he wasn’t able to pass a physical. The Chicago Bears were believed to have interest in acquiring Otah before the Jets completed a trade, but it would be surprising to see them target him now that he’s being sent back to Carolina.

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Pro Football Talk reports that a league source has informed them that the New York Jets can rescind their recent trade for OT Jeff Otah if he doesn’t pass another physical within the next week.

New York sent the Panthers a conditional seventh-round pick in return for him. The Jets knew that Otah was dealing with injury issues, but they assumed that he’d be able to pass a physical following the trade. Either way, they their bases covered if he’s unable to do so in the coming days.

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Howard Balzer reports that recently acquired OT Jeff Otah has failed his physical and will be placed on the Jets active/PUP list.

This was obviously the concern when the Jets made the decision the trade for him earlier in the week. Looks like Wayne Hunter is back to having limited competition for the starting right tackle position.

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The New York Jets have announced that they’ve trade an undisclosed conditional draft pick to the Carolina Panthers in return for OT Jeff Otah.

The Jets are clearly in need of help at the right tackle position. Wayne Hunter has been one of the worst starting tackles in the league, so bringing Otah in does make sense. Otah will make $2.35 million for the upcoming season, but comes with concerns of his own. He’s hard multiple knee surgeries, so it will be interesting to see if he’s able to be effective in the near future.