Panthers place Davis in IR; call up linebacker from practice squad

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers stayed close to home to fill their open roster spot, promoting practice squad linebacker Kelvin Smith to take the place of the injured Thomas Davis.

The 25-year- old Smith was in training camp with the Panthers this summer, and has been on the practice squad since the start of the regular season.

A former seventh-round pick from Syracuse, Smith played in four games with the Dolphins in 2007, but spent last year on injured reserve following a preseason knee injury. He was signed by the Giants last spring, but was released before the start of training camp.

Smith started 46 of his 47 games at Syracuse, finishing with 325 tackles, 21.5 for a loss, six sacks, five interceptions and two forced and recovered fumbles.

Davis was placed on injured reserve, an anticlimactic move. He suffered a torn right ACL in Sunday's loss to New Orleans, and finished the season with 71 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in seven games.

The Panthers filled their practice squad vacancy by bringing back running back Decori Birmingham, who spent most of last year on the practice squad and was in training camp with Carolina this year.

While the Panthers have some needs, the backfield didn't appear to be one, unless the Panthers think Birmingham has a future as a fullback. Starter Brad Hoover is out for a few more weeks with a high ankle sprain, and Tony Fiammetta could return this week after missing last week's game at New Orleans with a concussion.