As we just mentioned in regards to today’s inactives, the Carolina Panthers need all hands on deck if they want to pull off a monumental upset of the Buffalo Bills. Well, what about all feet?
One of the most important foots on the team, which belongs to kicker Zane Gonzalez, may not be on that deck for the Week 15 matchup. As first noted by Joseph Person of The Athletic, Gonzalez was helped off the field during pregame warmups with an apparent leg injury.
Zane Gonzalez is being helped off the field. This is not good.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 19, 2021
Kicker Zane Gonzalez is being helped off the field with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/efgFZfZB5M
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) December 19, 2021
This is, obviously, one heck of a development for Carolina in what’s been a season full of unfortunate turns. Gonzalez has served as one of the few consistent bright spots for the team, as he’s made 20 of his 22 field goal attempts and 22 of his 23 extra points.
If Gonzalez cannot go, punter Lachlan Edwards may have to take up the kicking duties. Backup quarterback P.J. Walker also has prior kicking experience back from high school.
This may, additionally, alter the approach for head coach Matt Rhule. Look for the Panthers to, perhaps, forgo field goal and extra point attempts in favor of fourth-down tries and two-point conversions with these now less-than-ideal conditions.
