CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Panthers are making more changes in hopes of sparking the NFL’s worst offense.
Three days after coach John Fox named Matt Moore the starting quarterback again, right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau said Thursday he’s been benched for Sunday’s game against San Francisco.
Bernadeau said Geoff Schwartz will move from right tackle to right guard and Garry Williams will make his first NFL start at right tackle.
“They came up to me and told me I was playing pretty well, but not up to the best of my ability,” said Bernadeau, who won the job in the preseason after Keydrick Vincent wasn’t re-signed. “Little things are holding me back, nothing crazy. Right now we just need a win and we need to make some changes and that is one of them.”
The Panthers (0-5) are averaging a league-low 10.4 points a game with Moore and Jimmy Clausen combining for nine interceptions. The line has allowed 17 sacks and the running game has struggled to come close to the numbers it put up a year ago when DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart each went over 1,100 yards.
“I have to work on everything in my game, specifically my run-blocking,” said Bernadeau, a seventh-round pick in 2008. “That’s something we as a whole have to work on, but me personally I think that’s something big-time I have to work on.”
Williams, signed as an undrafted rookie last year, will become the latest player to fill in at right tackle while Jeff Otah remains sidelined. Otah hasn’t played or practiced all season because of a knee issue that’s required two surgeries.
“This is my first ever start and it’s the opportunity I’ve been waiting on,” Williams said. “I’m going to go out and give it everything I’ve got to help us get a win.”
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