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The Carolina Panthers will be without a pair of longtime starters to begin training camp.
The team announced Tuesday that it will place right tackle Taylor Moton and cornerback Jaycee Horn on the non-football injury (NFI) list ahead of Thursday’s practice. Moton was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in June, while Horn cut his foot during the break between OTAs and training camp, according to the team website.
While Horn is expected to make a quick recovery, the franchise is expecting Moton to miss some regular-season action as he receives blood thinner treatment, the website said.
Both Horn and Moton will count against the 90-man roster limit on the injury list. They can be removed at any point during the summer ahead of the cut deadline on Aug. 30. If Horn or Moton remain on the NFI list beyond Aug. 30, they’ll be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.
Taylor Moton to miss training camp: What that means for O-line
Moton, entering his 10th season with the franchise, didn’t miss a game until his seventh campaign with the Panthers in 2024. He has since missed four games due to various injuries. His current medical situation is expected to add to that log of missed games.
Set to turn 32 next month, Moton is the oldest and longest-tenured non-specialist on the roster. The 2017 second-round pick is a key cog within the offensive line, and he’s been among the most dependable players - when healthy - of the past decade.
Moton’s absence is also notable because of another name that is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list this week: Ickey Ekwonu. The longtime starting left tackle underwent patellar surgery earlier this year after sustaining a rupture to his right knee during last year’s playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams.
Ekwonu is in the midst of an arduous rehabilitation process. His timeline is unclear - an outlook that lent itself to the idea of selecting Monroe Freeling in the first round in April - and his spot on the line might already be spoken for by free-agent addition Rasheed Walker.
With Freeling likely to fill in for Moton at right tackle - the rookie cross-trained at both tackle spots in the spring - the much-discussed left tackle battle between the rookie and Walker might turn out to be null and void. The Panthers also have veterans Stone Forsythe and Brady Christensen as insurance in case Walker or Freeling falter in camp or the preseason.
The Panthers re-signed Christensen last week. The veteran lineman, who is coming off Achilles surgery, has the ability to back up all five positions on the line. However, if Christensen were to be primarily slated to back up or start in a tackle spot, the Panthers would need to rely on the likes of Chandler Zavala, Saahdiq Charles and Ja’Tyre Carter - among others - to back up starting guards Damien Lewis and Rob Hunt.
What Jaycee Horn’s temporary sidelining means for the secondary
The Panthers’ cornerback depth chart is among the deepest on the defensive side of the ball in Carolina. While Horn’s temporary shelving will create a dip in the performance level of camp, the Panthers are well-stocked with NFL-level talent at the position.
Fourth-round pick, Will Lee, played several snaps with the first-team defense, opposite incumbent starter Mike Jackson, during the spring. The Texas A&M alum is known for his man coverage skills but additional reps with the starters in the Panthers’ zone-heavy system should help him adjust to new looks. Corey Thornton, a second-year defensive back, is expected to front the nickel position, especially with Horn sidelined and Lee taking mostly outside reps in OTAs.
The Panthers also have veterans like Chau Smith-Wade, Robert Rochell and special teams ace Akayleb Evans to lean on. All three players have considerable experience in Ejiro Evero’s defense. The team also have a duo of undrafted rookies in DeVonta Smith and Cam Miller to evaluate. Tyrek Funderburk and Mike Reid round out the group and both can play in the nickel package as well.
Undrafted rookie cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau was also placed on the NFI list on Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.
