Ryan Kalil Injury: Updates on Panthers Center’s Shoulder and Return
Published by Scott Polacek on October 30, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil suffered a shoulder sprain against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8. His official playing status for Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams has yet to be announced.
Continue for updates.
Latest on Kalil’s Playing Status
Friday, Nov. 4
Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com announced Kalil is questionable for Sunday’s game.
Latest on Kalil’s Practice Status
Thursday, Nov. 3
ESPN.com’s David Newton reported Kalil did not participate during Thursday’s session.
Panthers Need Kalil Healthy for Playoff Push
This is a difficult blow for the defending NFC champions if Kalil is forced to miss extensive time.
He was a second-round draft pick in 2007, developed into a five-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and 2015. Kalil started all 16 games in five of the last seven years for the Panthers and is one of the anchors up front to protect Cam Newton and open holes for Jonathan Stewart.
Kalil did miss the final 11 games of the 2012 season with foot surgery and one contest in 2015 because of an ankle sprain, but his durability outside of that is one reason he is so valuable for Carolina.
He is also a critical part of the Panthers rushing attack. Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus said Kalil “had the third-highest run-blocking grade of any center last season” for a team that reached the Super Bowl behind the league’s second-best rushing offense.
Carolina will likely turn to Gino Gradkowski at the center position if Kalil misses game action. While he isn’t a proven All-Pro player like Kalil, Gradkowski at least gives the Panthers a veteran presence who has been in the league since 2012.
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