The Bears signed offensive lineman Nate Chandler, the team announced on Friday.
Chandler, who made 19 starts for Carolina from 2012-14, did not appear in a game in 2015 because of a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve in September.
Originally an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, Chandler began his NFL career at defensive tackle before switching to the offensive line.
Before settling on Chandler, the Bears considered veteran offensive tackle Jake Long, who visited Halas Hall on Thursday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Bears were in the market for a swing tackle for some time.