CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers need to find a new starting right guard.
The team placed projected starter Geoff Schwartz on injured reserve on Tuesday, one of seven roster moves to get the Panthers down to the league-mandated limit of 80 players.
The Panthers also waived/injured a pair of former draft picks -- quarterback Tony Pike and guard Duke Robinson -- and released long snapper Chris Massey. The team also placed tight end Gary Barnidge, wide receiver David Gettis and offensive lineman Zack Williams on injured reserve.
Coach Ron Rivera said there wasn't any difference between J.J. Jansen and Massey at long snapper, so "we decided to stick with what we've got."
Schwartz hadn't practiced since injuring his hip at Fan Fest on Aug. 7.
"That's a tough one," Rivera said. "We hoped that he would react positively to the treatment. He's been out for a long time, and we have to move forward with this season unfortunately. Hopefully he can get it taken care of and be ready to go (next year)."
Rivera did not specifically address whether Schwartz will need surgery.
"It was a situation where he wasn't getting better," Rivera said.
Mackenzy Bernadeau, who has been starting at right guard, has struggled and is sidelined with a turf toe injury. Garry Williams, last season's starting right tackle, has been running with the first team in practice.
The decision to put Barnidge on injured reserve was not a surprise because he will miss 12 weeks because of a fractured ankle. Pike, a sixth-round pick in 2010 out of Cincinnati, had elbow surgery last week on his right throwing arm after missing most of training camp. Gettis and Williams each tore an ACL during training camp but weren't eligible for IR until Tuesday.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
