Health-wise, the news was again not good for the Carolina Panthers' offensive line.
Another starter - this time center Ryan Kalil - left in the second half of Sunday's 34-0 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs with an ankle injury. That came with starting tackles Jeff Otah (knee) and Jordan Gross (concussion) already missing the entire game with injuries sustained last week in a victory against the Atlanta Falcons.
Kalil missed a good portion of the fourth quarter of the Chiefs game. With Geoff Hangartner taking his place and first-time starter Frank Omiyale and Jeremy Bridges filling in at tackle, that meant that just two spots - guards Keydrick Vincent and Travelle Wharton - were manned by starters late in the game.
It didn't seem to matter much, however. Carolina's offensive line again didn't allow quarterback Jake Delhomme to be sacked (like last week against Atlanta) and paved the way for 205 rushing yards.
"I go against Julius Peppers every day, so if that isn't getting you ready, nothing is," said Omiyale.
Said coach John Fox: "Without looking at the tape, I thought (Omiyale and Bridges) did a fine job, as we expected them to."
Kalil didn't seem too concerned about his injury, saying he "rolled" his ankle. He jokingly said it would be amputated today.
The status of Kalil, Gross and Otah for next week's key NFC South game against Tampa Bay will most likely be day-to-day as the week progresses.
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