Carolina Panthers Retrospective
Panthers put Pike on injured reserve; activate Null to the active roster E-mail
Written by Steve Reed   
Friday, 03 December 2010 22:01
pike

Tony Pike only played one quarter as a rookie for the Panthers. (Photo by John Clark)

   CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers shutdown backup quarterback Tony Pike for the season, placing him on injured reserve Friday with a shoulder problem and promoting quarterback Keith Null from the practice squad.
   Coach John Fox said Pike’s shoulder simply wasn’t getting any better, preventing him from throwing the last couple of weeks.
   Pike said Monday there wasn’t a specific moment where he felt the shoulder tighten up, but said he’d developed some Bursitis in his shoulder.
   “I hadn’t thrown much throughout the year and then when I was the No. 2 guy I kind of overdid it a little bit,” Pike said.
   Null was signed to the practice squad last month and could be Jimmy Clausen's backup Sunday against the Seahawks depending on whether or not Brian St. Pierre is able to shake off his shoulder injury and suit up this week.  A former sixth-round draft pick out of West Texas A&M, Null started four games as a rookie for the St. Louis Rams last season, throwing three touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
   The Panthers released their injury report Friday night and left guard Travelle Wharton is out because of a lingering turf toe injury. Right guard Geoff Schwartz and cornerback Chris Gamble are questionable.