Robert

Hunt

Hunt was limited in practice throughout the week before being listed as questionable. He is currently ranked as a top-10 pass-blocking guard by Pro Football Focus. Inactive for the Panthers are S Russ Yeast, RB Mike Boone, LB Josey Jewell, C Andrew Raym, G Jarrett Kingston, and DE Jayden Peevy.

Hunt was part of an expensive effort to retool Carolina’s offensive line this offseason and the mission was wildly successful. Pro Football Focus currently has the Panthers ranked as their No. 2 pass-blocking team. Hunt was limited in practice throughout the week. He should be able to play through the hip issue, though we won’t know for sure until the Panthers declare their inactives ahead of kickoff.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it includes $63 million guaranteed, a king’s ransom for an interior lineman. The Panthers needed wholesale blocking improvements as they look to get Bryce Young’s career on track following a calamitous rookie campaign. 2020 second-rounder Hunt is a good, if not elite, place to start. He did miss extensive 2023 time with injury. This could end up a severe overpay. The Panthers are in a position to overpay as they try to develop Young during the remaining years of his rookie contract.

The Dolphins had several offensive linemen out, with Armstead (knee/ankle), Liam Eichenberg (calf), Robert Hunt (hamstring), and Austin Jackson (oblique) missing Wednesday’s practice. Tight end Durham Smythe (ankle) was also limited, severely hampering the Dolphins’ offensive blocking. It is just the first practice report of the week, so several players could return to practice, but for now, the Dolphins’ offensive line is banged up heading into Week 16.

The Dolphins injury report is lengthy and includes Armstead, OT/C Liam Eichenberg (calf), and OG Robert Hunt (hamstring). The Dolphins also put starting center Connor Williams on the IR earlier this week with a torn ACL. There are a few days before this becomes a real worry, but the Dolphins are shaping up to be down multiple starting offensive linemen against a strong Jets defensive line, which could be a problem for Tua Tagovailoa.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced the news on Tuesday, and it’s another big blow to an offensive line that’s already without LT Terron Armstead and OG Robert Hunt. McDaniel also hinted that the Dolphins may look to add a free agent center as they’re now down to just one healthy starter from their Week 1 offensive line. That’s a major reason why Tua Tagovailoa took five sacks against the Titans and was flustered by constant pressure throughout the game. McDaniel did say that Armstead was closer to returning then he was last week, but mentioned that Hunt was still week-to-week, so it seems like the Dolphins will remain short-handed on the offensive line when they take on a stout Jets defense this weekend.

Armstead was a DNP on Thursday and logged a limited session on Friday. He’ll likely get in another limited practice on Saturday to close out the week, resulting in the questionable tag heading into Monday night’s matchup against the Titans. Armstead consistently battles through injuries to play; it would be surprising if he didn’t go after an extra day of rest. While Armstead is considered questionable, guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) has already been ruled out for Week 14.

The report comes after Miami traded T Ereck Flowers and a late-round pick to Washington in exchange for a day three draft pick. Beasley said the team planned to move 2020 second rounder Robert Hunt to right guard in 2021. Never a sure bet to stay put in a draft, the Dolphins could nab the best offensive lineman available in Sewell, 20, who has been connected to the Bengals for months. Sewell could be a big get for Miami, which featured the league’s 11th worst pass blocking offensive line in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins had the 12th best run blocking line, per PFF. They added D.J. Fluker, formerly of the Ravens, in free agency. NFL Draft evaluators this week raised questions about Sewell’s status as an elite talent.

His main competition is Jesse Davis, who played 975 snaps last season at a below-average level. Hunt lined up at right tackle at Louisiana-Lafayette, yet numerous evaluators projected a shift inside to guard at the professional level. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald listed Davis and Hunt at both right tackle and right guard, so the team could be set on finding Hunt a starting job early in his first season.

Two of the Dolphins’ first four picks this April focused on offensive linemen, a major weakness of the team last season. First-round pick Austin Jackson certainly will stick at tackle, but Hunt could move inside in the NFL despite playing right tackle at Louisiana-Lafayette. An improved offensive line would greatly elevate every piece of the team’s offense, especially the success of Jordan Howard and Matt Breida out of the backfield.