Former Carolina Panthers kicker takes shot at franchise
Current New York Giants kicker Graham Gano spent eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers, before everything came crashing down in 2019. After seven years as the starting kicker, Gano suffered a severe injury, which was misdiagnosed by the Panthers medical staff.
Gano is a 12-year NFL veteran who has made 83.7 percent of his field goals. The undrafted Florida State alum is 267-for-319 on field goals and 333-for-350 on extra points over his career.
Despite his resurgence with the Giants, Graham Gano blames the Carolina Panthers for nearly ending his career.
“It was potentially career-ending,” Gano said, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “That whole thing was mismanaged. They told me I had one injury when it was actually a lot worse than that. What really needed to be fixed wasn’t. I shouldn’t have missed the full season I did. But there’s no changing it now, so I’m just thankful to be playing here.”
The Panthers cut Gano after the 2019 season, leaving him free to sign with the Giants. He will face his former team for the first time Sunday, although many of the faces in Carolina have changed. New head coach Matt Rhule arrived with a new staff in 2020, replacing Ron Rivera. Gano has faced Rivera’s Washington Football Team, another former employer, three times since their unceremonious split.
Panthers provide update on injured star
The Carolina Panthers on Oct. 6 made a significant transaction with the New England Patriots, giving away just a 2023 sixth-round pick in exchange for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Patriots planned to release Gilmore while he was on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a quad injury. According to NFL rules, players on the PUP list are first able to return to practice after Week 6 — and surely enough, Gilmore was back on the field today, making his Carolina Panthers practice debut.
“He is progressing as expected and as hoped,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Wednesday. “When the Carolina Panthers made that big trade for him … the belief was that at the first-available opportunity.”
While Gilmore was able to practice in some capacity, Rapoport added that Panthers fans should not expect the Pro Bowler in the lineup in the immediate future.
“Here is the thing though. I wouldn’t necessarily expect him on the field for a game right away,” he continued. “Gilmore has not practiced at all, in any form or fashion, since he injured his quad late last season.”