National Football League

Report: Panthers cut QB Clausen

Published Aug. 31, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Carolina Panthers have released former second-round draft pick Jimmy Clausen, a move that leaves them with only two quarterbacks on the roster, said a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday on condition of anonymity because the move has not been officially announced.

Clausen started 10 games as a rookie in 2010 and threw for 1,558 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions in a 2-14 season.

The following spring the Panthers drafted Cam Newton and Clausen hasn't seen the field since.

Clausen wrote on Twitter Saturday: ''Just want to thank the Panthers Organization and the city of Charlotte for drafting me and making this home for me the last 3 years!''

Newton is Carolina's starting quarterback with Derek Anderson is the backup.

Clausen had a solid training camp for the Panthers, but struggled throughout the preseason games. In the season finale against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, he fumbled out of bounds and also tripped as he attempted to make a handoff on a play at the goal line.

He finished the preseason 14 of 25 for 119 yards with no touchdown passes. He was sacked three times.

After the game coach Ron Rivera said part of Clausen's problems stemmed from playing behind the third string offensive line.

''The unfortunate thing for Jimmy he's working in with the third and fourth guys and that's always tough so you always have to take that with a grain of salt,'' Rivera said. ''He made some good throws and threw a nice back shoulder to James Shaw. It's just, you wish you could present him with some better opportunities as far as the guys on the field with him.''