Former Texans offensive tackle Charles Spencer is preparing for a fresh start with the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina general manager Marty Hurney acquired Spencer on waivers Wednesday — a day after he was cut by the Texans. Spencer (6-4, 337) will fly to Carolina and take a physical Friday. The Panthers open camp Saturday, and Spencer is eager to take the field with his new team.

“I’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to where I’ve wanted to be,” Spencer said. “To get turned down (by the Texans) was really hard. But this is another opportunity to showcase what I can do."

“I talked to the GM . He said he was very excited. He was surprised I was out there on the market .”

Spencer said he is not worried about the Panthers’ physical, since he recently passed one for the Texans.

Spencer is looking to get back on the field for the first time since suffering a knee injury on Sept. 17, 2006, in a game against Indianapolis.

In other Texans news, the team still is negotiating with first-round draft pick Duane Brown. The Texans open camp Friday morning.