CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers have signed free agent offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner, giving the team more depth at that position and a legitimate potential starter at right guard.
   Hangartner was released by the Buffalo Bills on Saturday after two years in Orchard Park, N.Y.
   Hangartner, known as "Piggy" by his teammates, played with the Panthers from 2005-08 and is very popular among his teammates. Although largely viewed as the team's "sixth man" during his tenure, injuries to other starters allowed Hangartner to start 27 games during that span. He played in 54 games before parlaying that into a contract with the Bills in 2009.
   Given his familiarity playing between center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah, there's a good chance Hangartner could step in and start right away at right guard.

   That moves comes one day after the team signed Max Jean-Gilles, a veteran guard who was released by the Cincinnati Bengals and who'd played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, and helps offset the season-ending injuries suffered by Geoff Schwartz and Garry Williams.
   Both players were at practice Monday.
   PRACTICE SQUAD: The team also announced they've signed five players to the practice squad: wide receiver Darvin Adams, running back Josh Vaughan, linebacker Lawrence Wilson, tight end Greg Smith and former Tar Heels cornerback Kendric Burney. They still have three spots to fill.