Position depth is usually a good thing in the “next man up” world of the NFL. One of the rare exceptions, however, is having too much depth at kicker where injuries are fairly rare and the limitations of a 53-man roster usually prevent teams from keeping two active players. Having too much depth at kicker can be both a blessing and a curse, and this is exactly where the Carolina Panthers find themselves with veteran Graham Gano and 2019 newcomer Joey Slye.
Panthers special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn recently referred to the dynamic between the two kickers as a “battle” and a “competition.