Panthers lose rookie RB, sixth-round pick Tyler Gaffney for the season to knee injury
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carolina Panthers rookie running back Tyler Gaffney will have season-ending surgery after tearing the lateral meniscus in his left knee.
Gaffney was Carolina's sixth-round draft pick out of Stanford and was expected to provide some depth in the backfield.
Coach Ron Rivera said Saturday that Gaffney will have surgery next week and will be placed on injured reserve.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gaffney started 14 games last season for Stanford and led the team with 1,709 yards rushing on 330 carries.
Rivera says Gaffney injured his knee in Friday night's Fan Fest while attempting to make a cut.
Rivera says the team will miss Gaffney, calling him a "workhorse style of back. He's similar in stature to Jonathan Stewart. He runs like Jonathan and he would have been a good (insurance) policy for us."
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