SAN FRANCISCO -- Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman referred to the rash of injuries on the offensive line as “position catastrophic’’ during the 2014 season.
That expression is applicable to this season as well -- maybe more so.
The Panthers finished Sunday’s 35-32 loss at Oakland with a lineup that not even Gettleman could have imagined during training camp.
Tyler Larsen, who’d never played center in an NFL game, was snapping to league MVP Cam Newton with starter Ryan Kalil in Charlotte nursing a shoulder injury and backup Gino Gradkowski sidelined during the game with a knee injury.