Ikem Ekwonu suffers ruptured patellar tendon in playoff loss

 Get well soon, big fella!  Best wishes and God Bless!


Ikem Ekwonu suffers ruptured patellar tendon in playoff loss


CHARLOTTE — The Panthers are going to have to adjust the offseason planning after the "significant" knee injury to left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Sunday that Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patella tendon in last night's loss to the Rams, an injury that could put his availability in question.

"All those times vary and all that, but it's significant," Canales said. "It's going to require surgery, so prayers and thoughts for Ickey. Just battled for us, and worked through some things along the season. Just a guy that I love, a guy that I really trust out there, and so we'll all be with him the whole way and wish him a speedy recovery as he comes back."

When Canales was in Seattle, tight end Jimmy Graham tore his in November of 2015, but was back on the field for the start of the next season. But he's also a smaller human, and with Ekwonu's happening in mid-January, it creates a complicated future for the team. Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater tore his in August, and Bears left tackle Ozzy Trapilo suffered the same injury Saturday night.

Yosh Nijman replaced Ekwonu in the first quarter and finished the game.

Nijman is among the five offensive linemen who are unrestricted free agents, along with Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett, Cade Mays, and Jake Curhan.

"It certainly is something that we have to consider, just depending on the duration of the injury," Canales said. "Knowing that we're going to go through a full offseason, and what's the timeline and how does that affect training camp and roster numbers and all that."

Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who went through a season-ending knee injury of his own last year, shook his head when asked about Ekwonu, the team's 2022 first-round pick.

"I mean, it's tough," Brown said. "I mean, I know God's got him. I know the type of person Ickey is. God gives the best warriors his toughest tests. So I mean, I got a lot of faith that he'll bounce back 100 percent."

The question is when, and the Panthers have other concerns there. Right guard Robert Hunt, who missed 15 regular-season games with a torn biceps tendon, was getting an MRI later Sunday on his pectoral injury. He left the game in the first half but returned to play the second.

"Literally a couple of plays in my right pec pops," Hunt said Saturday night. "But I don't think it's off of the bone, so if it wasn't off the bone, I was going to play."

So Hunt's threshold for pain seems high, and he admitted it was difficult to hear the diagnosis for Ekwonu.

"Unfortunately, he went down, it's pretty serious," Hunt said. "Obviously we don't want to be at home, but we're done for a while, so you're going to get a chance to heal up, and I'm sure he'll be ready to go whenever he's up."

A patellar tendon rupture is a tear in the tendon connecting your kneecap (patella) to your shinbone, causing sudden pain, swelling, difficulty straightening the knee, and a visible gap or "popping" sensation, often from trauma like falls or forceful jumping. Diagnosis involves physical exam and sometimes X-rays or MRI, with complete tears typically requiring surgery for repair to restore knee function, followed by physical therapy to regain strength and motion, with full recovery taking several months to a year. 

Symptoms
A sharp pain below the kneecap.
A popping sound or sensation at the time of injury.
Immediate swelling and bruising around the knee.
Difficulty or inability to straighten the knee or stand.
A visible gap or defect below the kneecap.
The kneecap sitting higher than usual (patella alta).

Diagnosis
Physical Exam: Doctor checks for swelling, tenderness, a gap, and ability to perform a straight leg raise.
Imaging: X-rays can show patella alta; MRI provides detailed tendon view.
Treatment & Recovery
Non-Surgical: For partial tears, using a brace/immobilizer and crutches, followed by physical therapy.
Surgical Repair: For complete ruptures, surgery reattaches the tendon to the kneecap, ideally soon after injury for best results.
Rehabilitation: Essential physical therapy to restore strength and range of motion.
Recovery Time: Can range from 6 months for minor tears to 12 months or more for full surgical recovery.

He’s more than likely done, it’s a hard injury to recover from. We need to look at drafting a LT now

Hate it happened and hope he heals completely.

Now to the business side. It’s a $17 million salary cap hit (cap we don’t have to spend) … and while we need an edge (Scourton is not it) we will probably have to go OT round one. I have my favorite and it is NOT the Proctor kid from Alabama. Certainly could sign one but I don’t think we will she the money to sign anyone worth a darn.

Hate it happened and hope he heals completely.

Now to the business side. It’s a $17 million salary cap hit (cap we don’t have to spend) … and while we need an edge (Scourton is not it) we will probably have to go OT round one. I have my favorite and it is NOT the Proctor kid from Alabama. Certainly could sign one but I don’t think we will she the money to sign anyone worth a darn. 

Hmm … I’m pretty sure we DO have to spend the $17.5M. We picked up Ekwonu’s 5th year option in April last year. That means 2026 is fully guaranteed. Injuries that occur while on official “Panthers business” are covered for 5th year option players. The 5th year option “locked” his contract for this year and next year.
DONE DEAL. (Pretty certain)…

I know, bummer. I had to search but injury reserve players salaries
Count against the cap and Icky’s contract is 100% guaranteed,
all dead money.

I know, bummer. I had to search but injury reserve players salaries
Count against the cap and Icky’s contract is 100% guaranteed,
all dead money.

Yeah... Unless by some stroke of fortune he makes it back early, he will miss all of next year. This injury is "worse" than an ACL. I'm just guessing, obviously, but I could easily imagine Ekwonu not playing another snap in Carolina. I really hate injuries. Anytime you "opt-in" on a 5th year option, you are not only paying good (high) amounts, but you're taking an awful risk because of the way the option takes hold. Everything is guaranteed, and there is little or no recourse.
SMDH