CHARLOTTE – Offensive lineman Chris Scott is back on the Panthers' 53-man roster – as a 54th player.
Scott's four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances officially ended Monday. Scott will spend this week on the exempt/commissioner's permission list, which is designed to allow teams to watch a player practice for before deciding what to do with him.
If the Panthers want to add Scott to the active roster for next Monday night's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team will have to make a roster move to make room for him.
Scott returned to Bank of America Stadium on Monday afternoon.
"I'm happy to be back. It's not fun sitting on your couch watching games, especially when you feel like you can help the team in some capacity," Scott said. "Whatever needs to be done, I'll do it to help the team. I'm looking forward to doing it."
Scott, a fifth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2010, has been with the Panthers since 2013. He's played in 31 games with eight starts – all at left guard – and has provided depth at guard and on occasion at tackle in addition to serving on special teams.
The Panthers also made another change on their 53-man roster, signing wide receiver Brenton Bersin and waiving defensive end Larry Webster. Bersin was waived Saturday to make room for Webster, who had been signed off the practice squad in case defensive end Charles Johnson wasn't healthy enough to play Sunday against the Falcons. Johnson did play, and Webster was inactive.
