Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu remained out of practice on Monday.
Ekwonu had his appendix removed a little over a week ago and the operation has left his status up in the air heading into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Panthers head coach Dave Canales called Ekwonu “day-to-day” on Monday and Ekwonu said his condition has been steadily improving since the emergency surgery.
“Definitely feeling better every day,” Ekwonu said, via the team’s website. “The whole experience is a little wild, definitely unexpected. But you know, definitely fortunate that we caught it at the right time and we were able to get it out ASAP.”
Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen are the backup tackle options in Carolina.
This year’s No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter is just over a week away from making his debut. And just like he did in college, Hunter is set to play on both offense and defense for the Jaguars.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence said in his Thursday press conference that it’s been “impressive” to see Hunter go both ways over the course of the spring and summer.
“Yeah, just to see the amount of work you have to put in to do that, it’s hard enough to play one way in the NFL, much less two ways,” Lawrence said. “To learn offense, defense, it’s a lot. He’s done a really good job.”
Lawrence noted how well Hunter has done in knowing his assignments for both positions, despite also having to learn the ins and outs of the league as a first-year player.
“It’s his responsibility to know what to do when he steps in the huddle and he’s done a great job with that, but also being conscious of he’s a rookie, he’s got a lot going on, he’s playing both ways,” Lawrence said. “Just trying to help him as much as I can with little reminders or different things with the formations or concepts or whatever. Just trying to give him reminders so it’s not, hey, you’re on your own, pal. Figure it out. And he’s done a good job of knowing it, but as much as we can help him out, I think that is important.”
Hunter, Lawrence, and the Jaguars will open the 2025 season against the Panthers on Sept. 7.
The Panthers may not have left tackle Ikem Ekwonu for their first game of the season.
Head coach Dave Canales said on Wednesday that Ekwonu had an appendectomy last Sunday after complaining of stomach pain over the weekend. The team will monitor him for the next week before making any decisions about his status for Week 1’s game against the Jaguars.
“We’ve seen these things turn around in a little over a week,” Canales said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “It can be longer. It just depends on each individual’s body, on how you respond to the surgery, how your body heals the right way. So, it’s going to be day-to-day all the way up until the game.”
Canales said Yosh Nijman would be the left tackle if Ekwonu isn’t able to play on September 7.
Jaguars rookie wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter is ready to play both ways in Week One against the Panthers.
Although Hunter was held out of some training camp practices and the final preseason game because of an injury, Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone says Hunter is now at full speed on the practice field.
“He’s on the grass today and rolling full speed,” Gladstone said.
Asked if the Jaguars still think Hunter can play both offense and defense, Gladstone says that has always been the plan and hasn’t changed.
“There hasn’t been any shift on that front,” Gladstone said. “We expect him to be who we know him to be, and that’s somebody who impacts both sides of the football. We can’t wait to see that on Sundays, and one Monday night, this season.”
Gladstone said the Jaguars are excited about what they can do with their game-day active rosters because Hunter playing two positions gives them more flexibility.
“It goes a long way,” Gladstone said. “You’ve got an extra active, essentially, somebody who’s going both ways.”
The 49ers claimed defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson off waivers Wednesday, the team announced.
They waived defensive lineman Evan Anderson in a corresponding move.
Jefferson was drafted by the Jaguars in the fourth round in 2024. He appeared in eight games and totaled 12 tackles, a sack and a pass defensed.
The Jaguars waived him Tuesday.
Anderson appeared in 12 games, with one start, with the 49ers and registered 24 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The 49ers also announced the signing of 13 practice squad players, and the list includes veteran cornerback Eli Apple. They also signed wide receiver Junior Bergen, defensive lineman William Bradley-King, defensive back Derrick Canteen, wide receiver Robbie Chosen, defensive lineman Trevis Gipson, linebacker Jalen Graham, offensive lineman Drake Nugent, linebacker Curtis Robinson, wide receiver Malik Turner, defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez, tight end Brayden Willis and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj.
