The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday morning that left tackle Matt Kalil had undergone an orthroscopic procedure on his right knee after traveling to Florida to receive a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews – Ron Rivera said after that day’s practice that the left tackle, who missed most of the 2016 season with a hip injury, was considered week-to-week.
The Panthers have been without tackle Daryl Williams, who dislocated his patella and tore his MCL, and Amini Silatolu, who suffered a torn meniscus, for most of their training camp, although Williams did return to practice Tuesday to work on the sidelines with trainers. Silatolu is being evaluated on a daily basis, while Williams and Kalil are evaluated by the team’s staff weekly – none of the injuries are considered season-ending, although none of the injured players have a timeline to return.
“He’s bummed, but the indication is it’ll be sooner rather than later,” Matt’s brother Ryan Kalil said after practice Tuesday.
All indications are that the Panthers will look to second-year lineman Taylor Moton, journeyman Greg Van Roten and offseason acquisition Jeremiah Sirles to take the three spots on the offensive line for this week’s preseason matchup with the New England Patriots – Rivera has praised the position flexibility of all three players, specifically Moton, who has taken reps at left guard, right tackle and left tackle within the past two weeks of practice.
“That’s the big thing, we have to time to evaluate and look at guys,” Rivera said after practice. “The guy that’s been stellar – knock on wood – has been Taylor; we’ve been able to move him around and he’s been able to adapt very nicely. We’ve got a group of young guys that have all stepped up and they’re competing.”
Kalil had missed the past two practices, as well as a session in Spartanburg, with knee soreness; he signed a five-year, $55.5m contract during the 2017 offseason.
