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10:12Quarterbacks Under The Most Pressure
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1:08Quarterbacks Under The Most Pressure: Bryce Young
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1:33Panthers Look To Build Off NFC South Title Season
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1:50Bills Defeat Jaguars in Playoff Classic Featuring Four Fourth-Quarter Lead Changes
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2:26Wild Card Highlights: Rams at Panthers
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1:50Did the Panthers Mismanage Their Last Drive at Game's End?
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1:37Jonathan Jones: 'I Don't Feel Great About the Rams Right Now'
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1:49Ben DiNucci: 'The Big Takeaway For the Rams is They're Beatable'
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0:54MOVING ON: Rams hold off Panthers' late comeback in Carolina
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0:42Pick To Win: Rams - Panthers
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1:09Rams Look To Return To Form
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1:01How Panthers Repeat Week 13 Success vs. Rams
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10:18Sportsline Projected NFL Playoff Bracket
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0:57Sportline Playoff Projections: Rams at Panthers
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1:421 Reason Each Team Will Not Win Super Bowl LX: Carolina Panthers
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1:32The Panthers Back Themselves Into Playoffs With Losing Record
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3:11NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks: Rams at Panthers
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0:47NFC Wild Card Keys To Victory: Rams at Panthers
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0:39Make The Case: Why Panthers Can Win Super Bowl LX
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2:53Panthers Win the NFC South
Top Ikem Ekwonu News
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Undergoes surgery
Ekwonu underwent surgery this week to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
The 2022 first-round pick from NC State ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee during the Panthers' wild-card loss to the Rams, and he's already undergone surgery to address the issue. Recovery timelines for this injury typically range from six to 12 months, as Jimmy Graham was able to return nine months after the suffering a similar injury during the 2016 NFL season, per Person. Once fully healthy, Ekwonu is expected to remain the Panthers' starting left tackle in 2026.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Ruptures patellar tendon
Panthers coach Dave Canales confirmed that Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during Saturday's 34-31 loss to the Rams in the wild-card round, Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reports.
The typical recovery timeline for a ruptured patellar tendon is six to 12 months, leaving Ekwonu's status up in the air for the start of the 2026 campaign. The 2022 first-rounder has started 64 regular-season games in four years with Carolina, including 15 starts at left tackle in 2025. Ekwonu is set to enter next season on a one-year, $17.56 million contract after the Panthers exercised his fifth-year option last April.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Dealing with significant injury
Ekwonu suffered a significant knee injury Saturday that will carry into the offseason, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Ekwonu suffered the injury early in the first quarter, and he was carted off the field. After the game, he was spotted on crutches with a brace around his knee, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. While there hasn't been an exact diagnosis, Ekwonu is likely to miss at least some offseason activity.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Questionable to return
Ekwonwu (knee) is questionable to return to Carolina's wild-card matchup versus the Rams on Saturday, David Newton of ESPN reports.
Ekwonwu was carted off the field during the first quarter after sustaining a knee injury. Yosh Nijman will take over at left tackle if Ekwonwu ends up being unable to return.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Logs full practice Wednesday
Ekwonu (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Ekwonu was held out of the Panthers' Week 16 win over the Buccaneers due to a knee injury. He is now on track to play against the Seahawks on Sunday and will likely reclaim the starting job at left tackle from Yosh Nijman.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Not playing Week 16
Ekwonu (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Ekwonu is dealing with a knee injury and logged a DNP/DNP/LP practice progression this week. Despite getting in some work Friday, he's not going to be able to play against the Bucs. Yosh Nijman will start at left tackle for the Panthers.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Questionable for Sunday
Ekwonu (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Buccaneers.
The 25-year-old upgraded from DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday to a limited session Friday, suggesting he's trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's divisional matchup. If Ekwonu is inactive in the Week 16 contest, Yosh Nijman will likely get the nod at left tackle.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Dealing with knee injury
Ekwonu (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
The fourth-year pro from NC State appears to have sustained a knee injury in the Panthers' Week 15 loss to the Saints. Ekwonu now likely needs to practice in full Thursday or Friday to avoid an injury designation heading into the Week 16 matchup against the Buccaneers.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Officially active Sunday
Ekwonu (appendectomy) is active for Sunday's Week 2 game against Arizona.
Ekwonu had to miss Week 1 while continuing to recover from an appendectomy, but he's progressed enough to suit up against the Cardinals. He's slated to start at left tackle.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Likely to debut Week 2
Ekwonu (appendectomy) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Ekwonu was a limited participant in practice throughout the week as he continues to work his way back from the appendectomy he underwent last month, but he's trending toward suiting up Sunday after he sat out the Panthers' loss to the Jaguars in Week 1. Assuming Ekwonu is cleared ahead of Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, he'll step back in as the Panthers' starting left tackle, while Yosh Nijman would move back into a swing tackle role.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Could return Sunday
Ekwonu (appendectomy) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals.
The 2022 first-round pick from NC State was able to practice in a limited fashion all week for the first time since undergoing an emergency appendectomy in late August, which is a good sign for his potential availability Sunday. However, if Ekwonu isn't ready for in-game action just yet, Yosh Nijman will likely get the start at left tackle.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Logs limited practice Wednesday
Ekwonu (appendectomy) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Per Gantt, coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Ekwonu was asking for more work, a positive sign as he continues to recover from an appendectomy he underwent prior to Week 1. If he can manage a full practice Thursday or Friday, he might avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.
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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu: Won't play vs. Jacksonville
Ekwonu (appendectomy) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Ekwonu is still recovering from an emergency appendectomy that he underwent in late August, and his next chance to make his 2025 regular-season debut is Week 2 against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 14. Yosh Nijman is expected to start at left tackle in Ekwonu's absence, per Joe Person of The Athletic.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 320 lbs |
| Birthplace: Charlotte, NC |
| Age: 25 |
| School: NC State |
| Experience: 4 |