PANTHERS -- EARLY CONCERNS -- INJURIES.??

I hate to bring tidings of terrible news, but it needs to be said.....

The Panthers are starting off this training camp, and this year, behind the curve -- AGAIN.

So, in case no one has noticed, our returning O-line is decimated. Ekwonu is out with a torn Patellar tendon, and will probably miss at least half of the season (unknown timeline for certain..). Our starting Centers for the past two years are missing in action as Cade Mays and Austin Corbett have left in Free Agency. OG Robert Hunt played in only TWO (2) games last year due to injury, OG Chandler Zavala was on IR twice last year and missed everything after week 12. The ONLY bright spot on the OL was OG Damien Lewis who played the whole year. The Panthers have two candidates at the Center position. The most likely starter will be Luke Fortner a FA pickup who is in his fifth year. He spent three years with the Jaguars and one with the Saints playing in all 68 games.  The Panthers also have rookie draftee Sam Hecht who I personally believe will be a solid long term solution, but will need some experience.

NOW --- The latest news has RT Taylor Moton on the NFI list to start the season. Moton has apparently suffered a blood clot in his lungs which COULD be very serious (potentially life-threatening..). It was found in June and is being treated. He is expected to recover and might play some at a later date after being activated and brought back to playing shape. There is nothing official at this time, but we should hear something Wednesday or Thursday when Dan meets for a presser. Moton is EXPECTED to miss a lot of time and probably won't return until mid-season or later (if then..).

SO ... It's very understandable why Brady Christenson has been brought back now. His injury not withstanding (he is rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon from mid-season last year), the Panthers desperately need some more good O-line experience. Our draftee, Monroe Freeling will probably be forced to start on the right side at RT, while FA pickup Rasheed Walker will probably start on the blind side at LT. That leaves FA pickup Stone Forsythe as the primary backup, unless he supplants one of the "starters" ..??? We also have an unknown quantity, Albert Reese, a rookie out of Mississippi State ... He's a big guy at 6'7" 330, but otherwise an unknown. --- So, Brady Chrisrensen is bound to play a lot at his "swiss army knife" specialty -- somewhere on the O-line -- as long as his injury has completely healed up and he is medically cleared, and he is ready...?????

Also of note, CB Jaycee Horn is also starting on the NFI list. He apparently cut his foot while he was "running" (*** How does someone cut their foot while running.??? Surely he doesn't train barefoot..???) -- Anyway, it required sutures, so he is temporarily out of the camp rotation. Shouldn't be a serious issue of course, depending on how deep/serious the cut was.

Also of concern of course is DL Turk Wharton who remains an unknown quantity as far as a return date is concerned. His availability will definitely impact the Panthers defensive front and could also impact the roster as other D-linemen are shuffled around to fill in during camp. Wharton had neck surgery in May and will likely start the early part of the season on the PUP list. We MIGHT get an update on him when we hear from Dan this week.

There are other issues as well, but these are the biggest or most worrisome of the bunch.

Good summary Hibs.  I am like you...how does JC cut his foot running???

Moton's issue is very serious.  Hoping the best for him.  Very scary. Glad that this was caught in time.

The blood clot thing seems to happen a lot in the NFL...so looked it up.. NFL plyers do have a higher risk than average.  Especially the bigger guys.

I am sure this is keeping Dan up at night...esp the Oline.  Icky's injury may have been something that helps us.  Freeling seems to have the potential to upgrade that position.  Glad that he is not been set up to get thrown out there at LT n day 1.

You are right...tough way to get started.

Taylor has been a great and solid player for us since we drafted him, but blood clots concern me (and actually kind of freak me out if I'm being honest). He needs to concern himself with his health first and foremost, before Football or anything else. A bloodclot is dangerous and one step away from a fatal Stroke, Heart Attack, or Pulmonary Embolism.

Jaycee, and y'all know I'm a Gamecocks Homer, but this kid, for all of the accolades he has received, has really underwhelmed me since being Drafted by the Panthers. I think he's a good corner. Do I feel like he is Elite? Nope. I'm just saying. And these injuries for him are concerning, especially since this one is a non-football injury.

Jaycee, and y'all know I'm a Gamecocks Homer, but this kid, for all of the accolades he has received, has really underwhelmed me since being Drafted by the Panthers.  I think he's a good corner.  Do I feel like he is Elite? Nope.  I'm just saying.  And these injuries for him are concerning, especially since this one is a non-football injury.

Horn cut his toe while running and had to get stitches.

Really bad break for Moton. That is some serious stuff but he should be back, who know between Halloween and Thanksgiving??? Just hope he gets completely well.