Carolina Panthers bench Kony Ealy; he responds with 4 tackles
Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy was benched for the start of Sunday’s 27-22 victory over New Orleans for disciplinary reasons, according to a team source.
Wes Horton started in Ealy’s spot at right end, although Ealy came in after six plays, following a tripping penalty on Horton.
“It wasn’t nothing out of the ordinary. It was a decision by coach. I was OK with it,” Ealy said after the game. “It didn’t stop me from coming in and playing.”
It wasn’t nothing out of the ordinary. It was a decision by coach. I was OK with it. It didn’t stop me from coming in and playing.
Carolina Panthers DE Kony Ealy on not starting Sunday vs. Saints
Ealy, a second-round pick in 2014, had a season-high four tackles against the Saints.
He was not credited with a defensive tackle in the opener at Jacksonville, but had two tackles and knocked down a pass in a Week 2 win against Houston.
Charles Johnson, the other starting defensive end, left the game in the fourth quarter after aggravating a hamstring injury. The Panthers are concerned Johnson could be sidelined multiple weeks.
Joseph Person: 704-358-5123, @josephperson
This story was originally published September 27, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers bench Kony Ealy; he responds with 4 tackles."