SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Carolina Panthers offensive line took another hit Tuesday, when guard Amini Silatolu was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee.  

• Amini Silatolu is set to undergo surgery Friday
• Team is already missing its starting right tackle Darryl Williams
• Catch Panthers and Bills kickoff Thursday at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News

Trainer Ryan Vermillion says Silatolu will undergo surgery on Friday and he will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

The news is a little troubling for a unit that is already missing its starting right tackle, as Darryl Williams is out indefinitely with a dislocated patella and medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear in his right knee. That injury came in the opening weekend of training camp.

The Panthers depth on the offensive line will get its first true test Thursday night, when the Panthers travel to face the Buffalo Bills in their preseason opener.

"We like where we are right now," head coach Ron Rivera said following Tuesday's practice.  "We think we've got solid depth.  We've got a couple of young guys that we really have high hopes for as well, so we just have to be really smart."

Starting guard Trai Turner feels the depth, in conjunction with the coaching staff will have his group ready to go.

"(We have) some really good young guys, " Turner said Tuesday.  "Really good at what they do.  They listen, they learn.  We have some really good coaches in (OL assistant coach) Travelle (Wharton), and (offensive line) Coach (John) Matsko, so they're just coaching us up, and we'll be ready to roll."

The Panthers and Bills kickoff at 7 p.m. Thursday night in a game that can be seen on Spectrum News.