Friday Night Could Settle the Right Guard Battle for Carolina

Four of the five starting spots along the Carolina Panthers offensive line are locked up. The only spot that isn't is right guard and that's only due to Austin Corbett continuing to recover from an ACL injury.

Last week's preseason game against the New York Jets just simply wasn't good enough. In fact, it was nowhere near the standard. Despite that, head coach Frank Reich is trending toward naming that interim right guard starter sooner than later.

"It's a competitive battle. Probably want to get through this game and probably lean towards a decision after this game, so we go into that last game with how that starting five is going to be."

Offensive line coach James Campen rotated in a bunch of guys at the right guard spot in that Jets game, but that rotation will be tightened up a bit for Friday night's game against the Giants.

"There will be a little rotation. Not quite as much," said Reich. "Still working with Campy on that. Wanted to see these young guys [Chandler] Zavala and Nash [Jensen] get them through this week and make sure they didn't have any setbacks, so I'll sit down with Campy at some point today and kind of finalize what that'll be."

If you're wondering about Cade Mays, who has been projected as the starter for quite some time now, he will not be available to play Friday due to a neck injury. Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be anything serious.

"I don't think it's going to be a concern long-term. I think it's a very short-term thing. But he definitely won't be available this week."

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