The Carolina Panthers announced today that they have released defensive tackle Ian Scott, the latest setback for a player who just a few years ago looked like one of the best young defensive linemen in football.

“He did everything right. He was a kid we liked and it was very unfortunate,” coach John Fox said. “The way it worked out there’s a chance when he gets healthy that we can bring him back later in the season. We felt like we dealt with him fairly and he did a fantastic job for us.”

With the Bears in 2005, Scott was a starter on the best defense in the NFL. But he lost his starting job in 2006 and was out of Chicago after the season. Last year he signed with the Eagles but was put on injured reserve before the season, and this year Scott suffered a knee injury early in training camp. Steve Reed of CarolinaGrowl.com reports that the Panthers reached an injury settlement with Scott, and because of that settlement, can’t re-sign him until after the ninth game of the season.

The Panthers will start Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis at defensive tackle, with Darwin Walker as the third man in the rotation and rookie Nick Hayden as the No. 4.

The team signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Sean Bailey to fill Scott’s roster spot.