Ikem Ekwonu is still out with a ruptured patellar tendon he sustained in the playoffs, and now right tackle Taylor Moton will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, recovering from a blood clot. This isn’t just bad news for the Carolina Panthers; it’s an absolute catastrophe for their offensive line before the season even starts. We’re talking about two starting tackles gone, forcing veteran Rasheed Walker and 2026 first-round pick Monroe Freeling into starting roles immediately.
The Carolina O-Line Is Imploding Right Now
Look, the Panthers were already dealing with Ekwonu’s devastating injury. He’s been out since the playoffs, and his return timeline is still vague. Now, Moton’s blood clot means he’s expected to miss the start of the season. This is wild! Just like that, Carolina’s entire plan for the tackle spots is blown up. Rasheed Walker, who handled the blindside in Green Bay for the last three seasons, is stepping up at left tackle. Then you’ve got rookie first-rounder Monroe Freeling taking over at right tackle. Both of them are suddenly starters, not just duking it out for a spot. This is Dave Canales’ squad trying to build off winning the NFC South last season, and quarterback Bryce Young is in a massive “time-is-now” campaign. He needs protection, plain and simple, and this tackle situation is precarious at best.
A Veteran Past His Prime? What Cam Robinson Brings (Or Doesn’t)
With two starters out, the depth behind Walker and Freeling is razor-thin, and that’s where things get interesting. Grant Gordon of NFL.com is suggesting the Panthers go after free-agent offensive tackle Cam Robinson, calling him the “best fit.” Robinson was a second-round pick in 2017 for the Jaguars, starting 91 games over eight years and performing at a “consistently respectable level” , though he never made an AFC Pro Bowl. After Jacksonville, he spent a year in Minnesota and split the 2025 campaign between Houston and Cleveland. Here’s the kicker: Pro Football Focus graded him at a paltry 48.2 overall in 2025, which put him 83rd out of 89 qualifying offensive tackles. Yeah, you read that right. He’s clearly past his prime. But the grim reality is the Panthers would only need him to step up if Walker or Freeling also go down. It’s a desperation move for emergency depth, nothing more.
This is a huge year for Bryce Young and the Panthers, trying to build on last season’s division title. With the tackle spot so unstable, adding any veteran presence, even one with a PFF grade like Robinson’s, could be seen as necessary insurance. You gotta wonder if they’ll make a move, and how quickly, with the season start looming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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