Panthers' Kyle Love to start at defensive tackle in Week 1
Carolina Panthers' defensive tackle Kyle Love will start in place of Star Lotulelei in Week 1.
Head coach Ron Rivera made it all but certain that Lotulelei would sit for the team's first tilt of the year, so that opens the door for 28-year old journeyman Love to appear in his first regular season game since 2013. This will be a massive downgrade for this defensive unit, as Love has just 69 tackles and 5.5 sacks since 2010, and hasn't played in more than two games in a season since 2012.
The Carolina Panthers ranked third in scheduled-adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points in 2013, and Lotulelei's diminished presence -- and occasional absence -- in 2014 lowered that rank to tenth in the league. If Lotulelei's disruptive ability is out of their rotation for an extended period of time, the Panthers' once-formidable pass rush may be watered down heavily.
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