The Carolina Panthers did not have their starting left tackle on the practice field for a second straight day.
Ikem Ekwonu, as he was on Wednesday, has been listed as a non-participant from this afternoon’s session. The fourth-year offensive lineman underwent an appendectomy last Sunday.
Head coach Dave Canales did, however, provide a bit of hope on Ekwonu’s status for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He’s got to have a great day on Friday, that’s the goal right now,” Canales told reporters yesterday. “We had him out there running, moving around a little bit today. Tomorrow he’ll do a little bit more and then the hope is Friday to get him into an individual period, see him getting in a stance, move around, hit some bags, and do some things to be able to make that decision.”
Canales added that Yosh Nijman or Brady Christensen, who started two games at left tackle in 2024, would get the start on the blindside if Ekwonu cannot go.
Here’s the full injury report from Thursday:
- OT Ikem Ekwonu (Illness) | Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: DNP
- G Damien Lewis (Shoulder/ankle) | Wednesday: Limited |Thursday: Limited
- CB Damarri Mathis (Knee) | Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: DNP
- G Robert Hunt (Foot) | Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: Limited
- DE A’Shawn Robinson (Groin) | Thursday: Limited
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