CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Undrafted Carolina Panthers rookie David Foucault will make his first career start in place of injured left tackle Byron Bell in Thursday night’s NFC South game against the New Orleans Saints.
Bell was ruled out after missing his third day of practice Wednesday with an elbow and knee injury. Foucault, from LaSalle, Quebec, made the roster after being invited to a tryout in May.
Also ruled out were nickel cornerback Bene Benwikere (ankle), wide receiver Philly Brown (concussion), left guard Amini Silatolu (calf), right guard Trai Turner (knee) and running back Fozzy Whittaker (quad).
Free safety Thomas DeCoud (hamstring) will be a game-time decision. Rookie Tre Boston will get the start if DeCoud can’t play.
Running back DeAngelo Williams will start after missing the last four games with an ankle injury.
But by far the biggest surprise was Foucault, who because of injuries played 30 snaps at both left and right tackle in Sunday’s 13-9 loss to Seattle.
Coach Ron Rivera said the plan was to bring Foucault along at a slower pace, but injuries have put the team in a position where he has to play. Garry Williams, who came into the season as a backup tackle, is on injured reserve with a back injury.
Silatolu would have been a candidate for left tackle if he were not injured.
Asked what he would say to fans who question the decision to let an undrafted rookie protect quarterback Cam Newton's blind side, Rivera said, “OK, what do you want us to do? Seriously."
“It’s the situation we’re in," Rivera added. “It’s not like we said, ‘Hey, you know what? When we get to Week 9, why don’t we put the kid out there at left tackle?’ Hypothetically speaking, we’re where we are because of a tough set of circumstances, because of the injuries."
