T he NFL is the ultimate league of attrition. Not only do the most successful teams have to get through 16 games relatively healthy, they also need to avoid injury bugs that often spread through the preseason.

Just two days into training camp, the Panthers are facing their first-mini health crisis at running back. Not only did they start camp without Jonathan Stewart, but now they’ve lost rookie Tyler Gaffney after just one practice.

The sixth-round pick will have surgery this week after he injured his knee Friday night. The Panthers will stash him on injured reserve, ending his season.

“It’s disappointing because the young man’s a solid football player,” head coach Ron Rivera said after Saturday’s night’s practice in Spartanburg. “He’s had a history of being a workhorse, and, unfortunately, in practice (Friday), he got his knee in a bad position, and something popped.”

With his knee wrapped, Gaffney leaned on crutches while watching Saturday’s practice from the sideline. He said the injury occurred during his first play at Fan Fest when he got his foot caught in the turf while running a sweep.

An MRI revealed it wasn’t a torn ACL, but there was damage to a ligament.

Gaffney wasn’t going to get a lot of touches, if any, this season, but he likely could have helped on special teams. Plus, he was good insurance. According to Rivera, the Panthers will now look to bring in another back to fill Gaffney’s spot.

“He’d have been a good policy for us in case something else happened,” Rivera said. “We’re disappointed for him; we’re disappointed for us because he certainly can fit what we do.”