Injury updates for Panthers’ Lewis, Ekwonu ahead of Week 1 matchup vs. Jaguars
The Carolina Panthers are monitoring the injury statuses of three offensive linemen ahead of their Week 1 clash with the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
Right guard Robert Hunt (foot), left guard Damien Lewis (shoulder) and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (appendectomy) were among the four players on the team’s first injury report of the season on Wednesday.
Hunt and Lewis were listed as limited participants, while Ekwonu was held out of the first practice.
According to head coach Dave Canales, Hunt injured his foot on Wednesday and was shut down after attempting to return to drills.
“We’ll evaluate him this evening, this afternoon, and have more information for you,” Canales said.
Ekwonu had an emergency appendectomy procedure exactly two weeks before the scheduled Week 1 matchup against Jacksonville on Sunday (1 p.m. on FOX).
Canales previously said he was hopeful that Ekwonu could bounce back in time for the regular-season opener following the surgery. But Wednesday’s no-show wasn’t a great sign for his Week 1 availability.
Still, Canales isn’t ruling anything out.
“He’s gotta have a great day on Friday,” Canales said about Ekwonu. “That’s the goal right now. We had him out there running, moving around a little bit today. (Thursday) he’ll do a little bit more. And then the hope is Friday to get him into the individual period.
“See him get in a stance. Move around, hit some bags, and do some things to be able to make some decisions.”
Lewis, who injured his shoulder midway through training camp, has slowly ramped up his recovery throughout the summer.
Lewis wore a red non-contact jersey during the final week of August, but he has since shed that precautionary marker as the team practices in Week 1.
Panthers’ Wednesday injury report
Below is the team’s complete injury report for Wednesday of Week 1:
Did not participate: OT Ikem Ekwonu (illness)
Limited participation: G Robert Hunt (foot), G Damien Lewis (shoulder/ankle), CB Damarri Mathis (knee)
How Panthers could replace Ekwonu, Lewis and/or Hunt in Week 1, if necessary
If Ekwonu can’t play this week, the Panthers will decide between veteran backups, Yosh Nijman and Brady Christensen, at left tackle.
While Christensen is listed as Ekwonu’s immediate backup on the unofficial depth chart, the Panthers have been giving Nijman reps at the position in practice as well.
“I think through training camp, me and Yosh rotated left and right, (and) got a lot of reps, so we were ready for both sides,” Christensen said.
“I attack every week as if I’m going to play,” Nijman aded. “Cause you never know what’s going to happen on game day. You don’t know how much you’re going to play, you don’t know what’s going to happen. So, at this professional level, we have to be professional about how we go about things, even if we’re not up that week or we are up that week or we’re splitting reps or whatever.”
There’s an argument to be made that Christensen’s versatility makes him more valuable as a reserve than as a fill-in starter, as he can be an insurance policy for all five positions on the line in case of emergency. If the Panthers are inclined to keep their flexible depth intact, they might lean toward starting Nijman on Sunday.
“We’re just kind of going to take it one day at a time,” Canales said. “And it’s cool, you hope the competition is over and you just settle into your group. But here we are. Guys have another chance to compete for that spot.”
And while Lewis seems to be on the mend, the Panthers have some pretty strong insurance for him and Hunt at guard as well.
Former starting center Cade Mays and 2023 fourth-round pick, Chandler Zavala, are available to start in case Lewis and/or Hunt need more recovery time.
Mays lost the center competition to veteran Austin Corbett following the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns. However, he has since filled in admirably as the team’s starting left guard with Lewis sidelined. He would be the logical choice to start against the Jaguars if Lewis were to be shut down.
Zavala, who dealt with a knee injury throughout most of training camp, has also filled in for Lewis and Hunt in the past, and he finished last season with a strong performance against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Whoever it is out there, it’s a real luxury to have so many guys that have experience (and) have played snaps at different positions,” quarterback Bryce Young said.
Even if Lewis and Hunt are available, the Panthers might choose to have an extra lineman active on game day.
The team has Christensen, Mays, Zavala and Nijman on the main roster. But the Panthers could also elevate either Jarrett Kingston or Brandon Walton from the practice squad, if necessary.
Tight end Tommy Tremble left off injury report
Veteran tight end Tommy Tremble is “ready to rock“ for Week 1, according to Canales.
Tremble has been working his way back into playing shape since the start of training camp in July. He underwent back surgery during the offseason program and spent the entire summer working with a trainer on an adjacent field as he attempted to get his speed and strength back following the procedure.
The team took Tremble off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list prior the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers in August. He immediately started taking part in individual drills with his teammates.
“It’s been great — he’s been engaged the entire time,” Young said. “He’s someone that’s been locked in and been on the sideline talking to the young guys, being super encouraging. ... Now, having him back out there, the energy he brings, the professionalism — it’s great to have him back.”
Canales has often said that Tremble’s recovery timeline would be based on his ability to regain his playing strength. The head coach has been encouraged by Tremble’s early work this week.
“He had a really great practice today,” Canales said. “He feels great. He’s said as much.”
New numbers on defense: Two draft picks, free-agent addition swap digits
The Panthers’ locker room did its annual post-cut deadline number swaps this week.
While kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was immediately able to switch from No. 35 to No. 10 on Monday, his teammates on defense had to wait until Wednesday for league approval to get their changes.
Veteran defensive end Tershawn “Turk” Wharton switched from No. 92 to No. 99. Wharton wore No. 98 with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he wanted to honor his favorite players with a switch to No. 99 following the departure of nose tackle Shy Tuttle, who wore that jersey number during his two seasons in Carolina.
“I grew up watching J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald,” Wharton told The Observer on Monday as he waited out the NFL’s jersey approval process. “Those guys inspired me to play the game, and I just want to wear (No. 99) because of them. And then my boy, Warren Sapp. Warren Sapp, too.”
Third-round pick Princely Umanmielen and fifth-round pick Cam Jackson also changed numbers on Wednesday.
Umanmielen, who wore No. 1 at Florida and Ole Miss, switched from No. 33 to No. 3 following the release of longtime kick returner Raheem Blackshear.
“Man, when I had seen (No. 3) become available, I immediately tried to get it,” Umanmielen said. “Growing up, my mom had always wanted me to get No. 3, just cause to her, and also to me, it represents God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit. That’s the meaning behind that number for me.”
Jackson, who wore No. 76 during the offseason program and No. 55 in training camp, inherited Wharton’s previous digits, No. 92.
“Just being able to be in a 90s number, for sure, as a D-lineman, I feel like that was the perfect number for me,” Jackson said. “Me and Turk had talked about it, I wanted 99, but he’s a vet. So, being able to get 92, that’s a good fit for me.”
Quick hits
- A couple of noteworthy takeaways from the Panthers’ first “unofficial” depth chart of the regular season: Rookie running back Trevor Etienne, the team’s first fourth-round pick, is listed as the first-team kick and punt returner. Veteran Nick Scott is listed ahead of Lathan Ransom, the team’s second fourth-round pick, at safety, opposite starter Tre’von Moehrig.
- Longtime long snapper JJ Jansen was announced as one of the hosts of SiriusXM NFL Radio’s “Players’ Point” show. Jansen, who has appeared on The Observer’s Processing Blue podcast, will co-host the program with Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays starting next week.
- The Panthers will host a family friendly pep rally at the Ballantyne Bowl (15119 Bowl St., Charlotte, NC 28277) from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Former Panthers wide receivers Damiere Byrd and Corey “Philly” Brown will attend the event, along with Sir Purr and the TopCats.
- The Panthers will also be hosting a Week 1 watch party on Sunday at Two Buck Saloon (4624 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205). The doors will open at 11 a.m. ahead of the 1 p.m. kickoff. The first 50 attendees over the age of 21 will receive a free beer.
