The Panthers will not have their left tackle when they take on the Saints this weekend.
Carolina has ruled out Ikem Ekwonu after he missed all three practices this week with an ankle injury. He suffered the injury in last week’s loss to the Broncos.
The No. 6 overall pick of the 2022 draft, Ekwonu will be missing the first game of his career due to injury. He played 100 percent of Carolina’s offensive snaps in 2022 and 2023.
Via Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, head coach Dave Canales said Cade Mays will start at center with Brady Christiensen moving over to play left tackle this weekend.
Safety Jammie Robinson (knee) and tight end Feleipe Franks (concussion) have also been ruled out.
Receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring), defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (ankle), and safety Jordan Fuller (hamstring) are all doubtful.
Receiver Xavier Legette (toe), running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum (quad), outside linebacker DJ Johnson (ankle), and tight end Tommy Tremble (back) are all questionable.
The NFL has allowed players to wear Guardian Caps during games this year. Not many have chosen to do it.
Saints receiver Chris Olave might be the next one to do it.
Via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, Olave said Thursday he’s thinking about wearing the soft outer covering on his helmet during games.
“I’m still considering it,” Olave said. “I was considering [wearing it] last game, ended up going with the regular helmet.”
Olave suffered a concussion in Week 6. He missed the Week 7 loss to the Broncos. He returned on Sunday, taking a shoulder to the helmet against the Chargers. He was checked in the sideline medical tent for a concussion, but he was cleared to return.
Olave said he changed his helmet after suffering the concussion. He said the safer helmet made him think he doesn’t need a Guardian Cap.
The resistance to the Guardian Cap usually flows from how it looks. Lumpy and clumpy, like a beanbag chair that has too many beans and not enough bag. But if it makes the game safer, everyone should try to get used to seeing it — and the players should try to get used to wearing it.
Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton’s run as the team’s starter ended last week when he was inactive against the Broncos after suffering a right thumb injury in a car accident and he’ll remain on the bench this week.
Head coach Dave Canales said on Wednesday that the team will stick with Bryce Young against the Saints this Sunday. Canales said he “erred on the side of caution” in making his decision and suggested that Dalton felt he was healthy enough to play.
Dalton confirmed as much when he spoke to reporters on Thursday.
“I felt like I could go,” Dalton said, via Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer. “For him, he wanted to give me another week of rest which definitely won’t be a bad thing.”
Canales indicated that the team will continue to make their quarterback decision on a week-to-week basis and Dalton was asked how he viewed being in that situation.
“It is what it is,” Dalton said. “I enjoy every time I get to be out there. We’ll see how this thing goes. We don’t know how it’s all gonna shake out.”
Young was 24-of-37 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions last week. Dalton was 11-of-16 for 93 yards and two interceptions in his last start.
The Panthers receiving corps got smaller this week when they traded Diontae Johnson to the Ravens and Thursday’s practice raised the possibility that they could be without Xavier Legette as well.
Legette was listed as a limited participant due to a toe injury. Legette was not on the injury report at all on Wednesday, so Friday’s participation will be telling about the risk to his availability against the Saints.
Adam Thielen (hamstring) was also listed as limited as he works to make his return from injured reserve.
Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (ankle), tight end Feleipe Franks (concussion), safety Jammie Robinson (knee), and right tackle Taylor Moton (rest) didn’t practice. Linebacker DJ Johnson (ankle) and tight end Tommy Tremble (back) were limited participants after missing Wednesday’s session.
Quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb) was a full participant again, but he’s set to be the backup to Bryce Young this week.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson experienced a major change in circumstances this week.
Johnson was traded from the Panthers to the Ravens in a deal that took him from a team with a 1-7 record to one with a 5-3 mark and aspirations for a deep playoff run. Johnson shared his reaction to that change of fortune after his first practice session with his new team on Wednesday.
“Once I found out where I was going, I was excited,” Johnson said, via the team’s website. “Sigh of relief. I’m ready to work.”
Johnson spent his first five seasons with the Steelers, so he’s very familiar with the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Speaking of Jackson, Johnson said that getting a chance to “contribute to the offense that he’s a part of and that he is a leader of is a blessing” and the hope in Baltimore is that the new wideout helps lift everyone to new heights in the second half of the season.
