Panthers' Taylor Moton moved to non-football injury list with blood clot as offensive line concerns grow

For nan first clip successful a decade, nan Carolina Panthers returned to nan apical of nan NFC South. Their breakthrough play ended successful January pinch a location wild-card thriller, wherever they pushed Matthew Stafford and nan Los Angeles Rams to nan brink.

After picking up Bryce Young’s fifth-year option and adding cardinal pieces crossed nan roster, nan Panthers participate 2026 pinch higher expectations arsenic nan squad eyes a 2nd consecutive section title. But Carolina’s violative statement took different deed Tuesday, creating nan latest trial for a portion charged pinch protecting nan erstwhile No. 1 wide pick.

Taylor Moton, nan Panthers seasoned starting correct tackle, will beryllium sidelined erstwhile nan regular play kicks disconnected successful September. Moton learned successful precocious June that doctors had discovered a humor clot successful his near lung. The Panthers confirmed connected Tuesday that nan 31-year-old will miss nan commencement of nan season.

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Taylor Moton No. 72 of nan Carolina Panthers looks connected during an NFL crippled against nan Chicago Bears astatine Soldier Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected Nov. 9, 2023. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Moton’s setback comes pinch starting near tackle Ikem Ekwonu still recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon successful his correct knee. Ekwonu suffered nan wounded during nan Panthers’ playoff game.

Ekwonu underwent emergency appendectomy surgery past August.

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Moton was moved to nan non-football wounded list, joining two-time Pro Bowl protect backmost Jaycee Horn.

The cornerback missed a Week 12 crippled against nan San Francisco 49ers past play but vanished nan twelvemonth pinch 16 crippled appearances. Horn landed connected nan non-football wounded database this week aft cutting his ft while running, according to nan Panthers.

Jaycee Horn (8) of nan Carolina Panthers looks connected during nan first half of nan NFC Wild Card Playoff crippled against nan Los Angeles Rams astatine Bank of America Stadium connected Jan. 10, 2026, successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (David Jensen/Getty Images)

After nan diagnosis, Moton was put connected humor thinners and nan squad said he has responded good to nan treatment. Carolina’s aesculapian unit continues to show nan seasoned lineman day-to-day.

The Panthers had already moved to protect themselves connected nan near side, signing seasoned tackle Rasheed Walker successful March arsenic a imaginable replacement for Ekwonu. Moton’s absence could now create an opening connected nan correct broadside for Monroe Freeling, nan violative tackle Carolina selected pinch nan No. 18 prime successful nan 2026 NFL Draft.

The Panthers wasted small clip addressing nan near broadside of nan violative line, signing Rasheed Walker successful March arsenic security for Ekwonu. The adjacent month, Carolina doubled down up beforehand by selecting Monroe Freeling successful nan first information of nan 2026 NFL Draft.

Carolina Panthers violative tackle Taylor Moton (72) during nan 4th fourth against nan San Francisco 49ers astatine Levi's Stadium successful Santa Clara, California, connected Nov. 24, 2025. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)

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The Panthers selected Moton successful nan 2nd information of nan 2017 NFL Draft retired of Western Michigan. He has spent each 9 seasons of his NFL profession pinch Carolina.

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