The Panthers, desperate for help at defensive tackle, traded a 2010 fifth-round pick to the Chiefs for DT Tank Tyler just ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, according to various reports.

Tyler, a third-round pick in ’07, has made two starts this season. He started all 16 games in ’08 and was credited with 41 tackles. He will likely move into the starting lineup before long and will share snaps with Nick Hayden and Hollis Thomas.

Carolina lost starting nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu for the season early in the first practice of training camp when he suffered a ruptured Achilles and the team has struggled to find a player to help fill the void. GM Marty Hurney traded an undisclosed draft pick to the Browns for DT Louis Leonard in September, but he broke his ankle in Week Two and joined Kemoeatu on the injured reserve list.

The Panthers are now without first- and fifth-round picks in next year's draft, and also will be without the pick they gave up for Leonard.