Hangartner To Start at Center for Injured Kalil

The Panthers have a hole in the middle of the line with the recent loss of Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil. As we suspected Ron Rivera announced today Geoff Hangartner will replace him.

Ryan Kalil injury: Center placed on IR, will undergo surgery

The Carolina Panthers just announced that center Ryan Kalil has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2012 season. He played last week's game against the Seattle Seahawks on the injury.

Kalil will undergo Lisfranc surgery, an operation on the mid-foot that happens as a result of broken bones, or ligaments where the metatarsal bones (toes) meet the Lisfranc joint complex (foot). Screws or plates are used to support the area.

Recovery times greatly vary, but in all cases an initial period of 6-8 weeks of non-weight bearing movement on the foot are required. Standard recovery times normally range from 3-to-5 months, although for an NFL player this can be a very different story.

Want the bright side? Kalil should be able to return in 2013 without issue.

Want the not-so-bright side? Of all the players the Carolina Panthers couldn't afford to lose this season, Kalil is at the top.

The team have not announced who will start in his absence, but even money should be on current RG Geoff Hangartner to fill the role. As a stop-gap solution he's fine, but the prospect of another 11 weeks with Garry Williams at right guard isn't so great.

Ryan Kalil injury: Pro Bowl center could miss rest of season with foot injury

In a year that has gone from bad to worse, Panthers center Ryan Kalil could now miss the rest of the 2012 season.