Six games into his first season with the Carolina Panthers, Keydrick Vincent already has one distinction.

He's the only offensive lineman who has started every game.

Injuries have sidelined the Panthers' four other regulars -- center Ryan Kalil, guard Travelle Wharton and tackles Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah -- at various times already, leaving Vincent the lone constant from his spot at right guard.

But to Vincent, an eight-year veteran who signed with the Panthers last March, that's life in the NFL. And it just means that he and others have to step up.

"It's one of those things, no matter who's in there, we've got a job to do as an offensive line, and that's to run the ball and protect Jake (Delhomme)," Vincent said as the Panthers continued preparations for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. "You strap it up on Sundays, and you go. I mean, it really doesn't matter who's injured. Everybody has a job, and you have to do your job well."

The Panthers were missing Kalil and Otah with ankle injuries Sunday in a 27-3 loss at Tampa Bay and generated a season-low 40 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Kalil and Otah were held out of practice again yesterday. They had been limited in practice Wednesday, and Coach John Fox said that both had experienced soreness and were held out as a precaution.

Geoff Hangartner replaced Kalil last week, and Jeremy Bridges has started the past two games while Otah has been out.

Earlier in the season, Wharton missed two games after injuring a knee in the season-opening win at San Diego, and Gross missed the win over Kansas City after suffering a concussion against Atlanta.

All told, Kalil, Vincent, Wharton, Gross and Otah have been on the field together just 39 of the 371 offensive plays that the Panthers have run this season.

Vincent has tried to look for a positive in the situation. He said that the shuffling could pay a long-term dividend in terms of depth on the offensive line.

"I think that's key because when it happens again, then you have guys who have already been in that situation and have that game-time experience, and you just step in and go," he said. "But you always have to have your mind ready, no matter what happens. You have to have your mind right, and when your number's called, you're good to go."

Vincent is pleased with his play, and with his durability. He spent the final seven games of the 2005 season on the injured list while with Baltimore, then missed four games because of various injuries in 2006. He played in just seven games last season with Arizona.

"I've been very fortunate, but I've had my share of injuries the last two or three years," he said. "So I just thank God that I'm healthy this year."

The transition to the Panthers, he said, has been easier than some earlier in his career. He spent his first four seasons with Pittsburgh before moving on to Baltimore.

"I've been through this process before," Vincent said. "When I left Pittsburgh and went to the Ravens, it was real rocky. There was no love lost. I was part of a team I had grown to hate."

"But coming to Carolina, I kind of knew what to expect coming to a new team, like how to deal with certain stuff. So it was like I had already been here before, because I had been through that situation before and I was more prepared. I know my place, and my role."

See more at www2.journalnow.com