Published: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 / Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 08:16 AM

Panthers LB Johnson latest player to be added to injured reserve

CHARLOTTE -- Another week, another starter to injured reserve.

Tuesday, linebacker Landon Johnson was the latest addition to the list for the Carolina Panthers.

Johnson — who was replacing the injured Thomas Davis at weakside linebacker after he was placed on IR two weeks ago — suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament in the loss to Miami last week.

While he might have been able to return in the next six weeks, the Panthers are so thin at linebacker they needed to make a move. With strongsider Na'il Diggs (ribs) uncertain for this week, the Panthers could be starting James Anderson and Dan Connor on either side of Jon Beason this week. Recent practice squad call-up Kelvin Smith would have then been the only healthy backup.

The Panthers filled Johnson's spot by signing second-year linebacker Jordan Senn, who's been with Indianapolis.

He made the Colts roster last year as an undrafted rookie from Portland State, and was second on the team in special teams tackles. This year, he was waived in final cuts but brought back for two games in October.

Johnson became the eighth player to land on IR for the Panthers, and the third in as many weeks along with Davis and left tackle Jordan Gross.

The Panthers signed him to a three-year, $10 million contract in 2008, but he took a pay cut to stay this year. He's scheduled to make $1.33 million next year, but that seems unlikely given his limited impact.

He led Cincinnati in tackles three of the four years prior to signing here but never seriously threatened Diggs for a starting job this year. He played adequately in relief of Davis this year, but wasn't nearly the kind of impact player they were hoping for.