Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano gets a weird career first

Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano has been in the NFL since 2009, but never before had something like what happened in the second quarter of Sunday’s win happened to him in a game.

After Carolina’s first touchdown, Gano lined up for the kickoff. As he approached to make the kick, the ball began slipping off the tee – and was almost completely off the tee by the time he made contact.

The ball tumbled forward less than 10 yards and into the hands of a Houston Texans player. Had the play stood, it would have been Texans ball on Carolina’s side of the field.

At first, Gano feared the play would stand.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Gano said.

The officials allowed a re-kick, which went for a touchback.

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano gets a weird career first."