NFL teams
David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Panthers' Ryan Kalil will miss last 2 preseason games with knee sprain

NFL, Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil suffered a sprained left knee in Saturday's 31-30 victory over Miami and will miss the final two preseason games.

Coach Ron Rivera, who wasn't aware of the injury after the game, said the goal is to get the four-time Pro Bowler ready for the Sept. 13 opener at Jacksonville.

Kalil was not among the players rehabbing on the sideline during Monday's practice. Rivera said the team simply was being cautious.

With Kalil out, the Panthers will turn to starting right tackle Mike Remmers and Brian Folkerts. Both took snaps with the first team on Monday.

With Remmers moving to center, first-round draft pick Daryl Williams took first-team reps at right tackle. That was the combination in Monday's final team drill.

Williams impressed the staff last week the way he handled Miami's defensive front during two days of dual practices at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Prior to offseason workouts, Remmers hadn't played extensively at center since the sixth and seventh grades.

Kalil's injury came two days after the Panthers lost No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin for the season with a torn ACL.

"It always makes you nervous when you get quality players injured," offensive coordinator Mike Shula said. "But compared to last year, on offense, we feel a whole lot better with the depth we have, whether or not it's the center position or wide receiver position."

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