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It is possible that the left Tackle of the Carolina Panthers, Ikem Ekwonu, is not ready for the team opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after it underwent an emergency appendectomy surgery last week.
Ekwonu, 24, went to the team’s facilities last weekend complaining about stomach pain. It was reviewed by the team’s medical staff, who recommended emergency surgery.
The Panthers coach, Dave Canales, told journalists last Wednesday that Ekwonu would be “day by day, to the game.”
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The offensive Tackle of the Carolina Panthers, Ikem Ekwonu (79), goes to the field during the first quarter against the Arizona cardinals at the Bank of America Stadium on December 22, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn images)
Ekwonu did not participate in the team’s practice on Monday, according to the team’s website.
The Panthers selected Ekwonu with the general selection number 6 in the NFL 2022 draft, and the product of the North Carolina state has been durable during its first three seasons in the NFL. Ekwonu began the 17 games in each of his first two seasons and started 15 of 17 games last season.
The recovery times of players for appendix procedures vary. The then security of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minkah Fitzpatrick, was lost only eight days in 2022, while former Green Bay Bay Packers, David Bakhtiari, lost three games that same season after the procedure.
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The offensive Tackle of the Carolina Panthers, Ikem Ekwonu (79), observes during the second half in the Bank of America Stadium on October 13, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn images)
If Ekwonu cannot start against the Jaguars, the team will probably resort to Yosh Nijman’s backup.
Nijman is ready to enter his sixth season at the NFL. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers and the last two with the Panthers.
Offensive Tackle of the Carolina Panthers Ikem Ekwonu (79) during the mini -family at the Bank of America stadium on June 11, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn images)
The 29 -year -old began 25 of the 83 games in which he appeared. Last season, he started three games in the right Tackle when Taylor Moton was injured.
The Panthers play the Jaguars on the road on September 7 at 1 pm et.
