Panthers place Daviyon Nixon on injured reserve

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.