Matt Kalil’s absence at practice may be something to monitor
The Carolina Panthers may have to monitor the situation…
After having a rough game against the Miami Dolphins on Friday, Carolina Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil was not in pads on Sunday. Per multiple media reports, Kalil missed practice due to an unspecified injury. Head coach Ron Rivera told media that the team wanted to rest Kailil and “take care of him.”
Kalil did not have his best game against the Dolphins on Friday. He was manhandled by defensive end Robert Quinn and gave up two sacks on the evening.
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This is news that should worry Carolina Panthers fans a little bit. The injuries to the offensive line have already been well=documented, and having a veteran like Kalil not at practice (even if at the end of the day it’s nothing serious) should raise eyebrows. Offensive line looks like a position that could cause headaches throughout the course of the season.
In the meantime, Rivera tried to stay positive about a bleak situation.
"“It’s a little worrisome because what you really want to do is build that continuity,” said Rivera. “Hopefully this is just a little bit of a blip, but at the same time it’s giving us the opportunity to see what Taylor Moton can do.”"
Although Moton had a tough matchup on Friday going against Cameron Wake, he managed to hold his own. Now, heading into a Friday matchup with an improved New England Patriots pass rush, he will again be put to the test. At the very least, the injuries to the offensive line have allowed the coaching staff to see what they have for depth. Although the backup linemen possess talent, depth on the line may be a problem heading into the season.
This may just be a case of a veteran getting an off day after a rough performance or it could be something bigger. Hopefully, it is the latter as Friday will probably be Kailil’s shot at maximum playing time this preseason. He would need to have a strong showing at the very least to give confidence to the Carolina Panthers in regards to their offensive line. Now, the team may have to scramble.
Next. Panthers-Dolphins final thoughts. dark
As if the challenges at the position could not get worse, Kalil’s absence at practice Sunday may add a bit of a wrinkle to the plans of the Carolina Panthers. Hopefully, this was more of a preventative measure than anything else. Even still, this is something to watch as the week progresses.