The Panthers didn’t need any more bad news offensively, but now they have to shuffle their line again.
Starting right guard Garry Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL in yesterday’s 12-7 loss to the Seahawks, via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.
Williams hasn’t had much in the way of luck, losing his first chance to be a full-time starter when he suffered a broken ankle in the 2011 preseason. The former undrafted rookie from Kentucky had started 21 games for the Panthers at both guard and tackle.
They’ll at least get starting left guard Amini Silatolu back from a hamstring injury for practice Wednesday. That would allow journeyman Chris Scott to play right guard, after sharing the left guard job yesterday with veteran Travelle Wharton, who’s working himself into shape. Williams had replaced projected starter Geoff Hangartner, who was cut a week into training camp.
Of course, if the Panthers don’t find a way to move the ball downfield instead of limiting their big-armed quarterback Cam Newton’s chances to use his big arm, it might not matter who’s blocking.
