CHARLOTTE – Quarterback Taylor Heinicke has been placed on injured reserve with a left elbow injury following his first NFL start, so the Panthers have brought back the man he beat out in the summer for the backup job.

Garrett Gilbert re-joined the team Wednesday as the Panthers begin preparations for Week 17 at New Orleans. With Cam Newton expected to be inactive for the second straight week, undrafted rookie Kyle Allen is the other option. Allen made his NFL debut last week against Atlanta, completing all four of his pass attempts. He spent seven weeks on the practice squad prior to being activated.

Gilbert has spent time on numerous NFL practice squads but he has not yet appeared in a regular season game.