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Carolina Panthers: Joey Slye in driver’s seat at kicker

By Danny Jaillet

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 19: Joey Slye #46 of the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks the game-winning field goal out of the hold of Wright Bynum #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on November 19, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame 34-31.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 19: Joey Slye #46 of the Virginia Tech Hokies kicks the game-winning field goal out of the hold of Wright Bynum #89 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on November 19, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame 34-31.(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers kicking situation just got interetsting .

Unfortunately, I have some bad news as it relates to a Carolina Panthers kicker. Graham Gano could miss half of the season per multiple media reports.

Gano’s left knee is still bothering him, and for a kicker that is certainly not a good thing. If there is one positive to the situation, it is that he could come back at some point this season. Carolina will put him on injured reserve with a return designation.

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This move comes at a bad time for Gano. It is never a good time to have an injury, but his back up Joey Slye is kicking the ball really well. He is six-of-six on field goals and has made two kicks from 50-plus yards.

For the team as a whole, it is good that they have been able to find a kicker who is hitting the ball with consistency. With Gano on the shelf, it is hard to find competent field goal kickers. Luckily, the Carolina Panthers did not have to look far for one.

As far as the starting kicking job goes, this move puts Slye in the driver’s seat. However, with the responsibility of the starting job comes added pressure. This is probably not a position he thought he would be in at the moment. However, he is certainly capable of consistency. He needs to have a good final game on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Steelers to build good momentum heading into the regular season.

It’s interesting that we are seeing perhaps a change of the guard at kicker. That is a position where change rarely occurs. However, the Carolina Panthers need to have a kicker who is healthy and consistent. Slye is both, and this preseason has proved that.

Depending on the job he does over the course of the regular season, this could be a permanent role for him. In the meantime, the Carolina Panthers will march forward. I hope Gano gets healthy soon. He has been an integral part of the Carolina Panthers for many years, and I hate to see him watching from the sidelines.

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