CHARLOTTE — Just as the Panthers were getting healthier on defense, they lost another player on that side of the ball.
The Panthers placed rookie defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon on injured reserve Thursday, after he suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday.
Nixon, their fifth-round pick from Iowa, had played in all seven games this year, and was emerging as a solid rotational player in the middle. He played 31 percent of their snaps against the Giants, a season high.
Without him, the Panthers have Bravvion Roy and rookie Phil Hoskins behind starters DaQuan Jones and Derrick Brown in the middle. Hoskins, their seventh-rounder this year, hasn't been active for a game this year.
