On a day with huge injury news elsewhere, the news that 2017 Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano would be placed on injured reserve after missing the past two games with a knee injury on his plant leg slipped under the radar – but as practice wore on with Taylor Heinicke as the starting quarterback, Chandler Catanzaro was the only kicker on the field for the Carolina Panthers; Gano will finish his 2018 season 14-of-16 on field goals and 30-of-33 when attempting extra points.
Catanzaro has not missed a kick in five attempts over the past two weeks.
“I’m just taking it one kick at a time, that’s all I can do,” said Catanzaro. “The teammates have helped me out a bunch, JJ and Mike do a great job snapping and holding and the guys up front are protecting for me and the guys on kickoff are covering for me – so I’m thankful for those guys and it’s one kick at a time.”
“I’ve got all the respect in the world and love for Graham as a person and as a kicker; he’s a heck of a kicker and a Pro Bowler last year, so I’m just taking this one kick at a time and that’s all I can do these last couple of games.”
In according roster moves, the Panthers plucked tight end Jason Vander Laan from the practice squad; after defensive tackle and seventh-round pick Kendrick Norton was signed by Miami yesterday, the Panthers added linebacker Antwione Williams and offensive lineman Landon Turner to the scout team.
In addition to multiple veterans having days off – something that has been the case for most of the season – three players missed practice with injuries; however, only two days removed from their Monday night game and a game on Sunday, not much should be read into the Wednesday injury report. Aside from at quarterback, of course, where it has been announced that Heinicke will get the nod against Atlanta.
Check out the full injury report here:
| Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Adams | Rest/Wrist | None | |
| Thomas Davis | Rest | None | |
| Ryan Kalil | Rest | None | |
| Luke Kuechly | Rest | None | |
| Captain Munnerlyn | Knee | None | |
| Cam Newton | Right Shoulder | None | Taylor Heinicke will start Week 16. |
| Julius Peppers | Rest | None | |
| Eric Reid | Rest | None | |
| Kawann Short | Rest | None | |
| Shaq Thompson | Shoulder | None | |
| Trai Turner | Rest | None |
