Panthers lose only kicker on roster to injury in warmups before facing Bills

The Carolina Panthers lost kicker Zane Gonzalez to an injury while he was warming up before Sunday afternoon's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Gonzalez had to be helped off the field, and the team said he would miss the game with a quad injury. The NFL on Fox broadcast showed Gonzalez hobbling after a kick before the game.

He was the only kicker listed on the Panthers' depth chart, and coaches asked team members whether anyone had previous kicking experience.

The Fox broadcast showed wide receiver Brandon Zylstra practicing kickoffs and backup quarterback P.J. Walker trying field goals before the game.

The Panthers went for two-point conversions rather than extra points after their two touchdowns in the 31-14 loss. They also didn't attempt a field goal.

But Zylstra, 28, did make three kickoffs, averaging 48.7 yards per kick. He had last kicked during high school.

"I tell (my coaches) I’m a man who can kind of do anything, so I welcome the challenge," he told reporters.

Gonzalez, 26, is in his first season with the Panthers after previously playing for the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns.

He had made 20 of 22 field goal attempts this season, including his last 17, plus 22 of 23 extra-point attempts.

"It is tough," Zylstra said of Gonzalez's injury. "He's had one heck of a year so far. He's Mr. Automatic out there, so you feel for him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panthers lose only kicker, Zane Gonzalez, to injury before game