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Tag: Yosh Nijman

  • Panthers’ Ekwonu sustains serious knee injury in playoff loss vs. Rams

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    The Carolina Panthers will head into the offseason with uncertainty surrounding their left tackle position.

    Ickey Ekwonu sustained a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee during Saturday’s wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to head coach Dave Canales on Sunday. Ekwonu was injured during the second series of the 34-31 defeat at Bank of America Stadium.

    Ekwonu, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, is set to play on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract in 2026. He has been eligible for a contract extension since the conclusion of the 2024 season, but the team picked up his fifth-year option last offseason instead.

    Carolina Panthers tackle Ikem Ekwonu sits on the team bench during action against the Cleveland Browns on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
    Carolina Panthers tackle Ikem Ekwonu sits on the team bench during action against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

    Ekwonu was replaced by veteran Yosh Nijman against the Rams. Nijman had previously filled in for Ekwonu for two starts at left tackle during the regular season. Nijman is a pending unrestricted free agent in March.

    With Ekwonu likely to undergo a long rehabilitation process, the Panthers will need to figure out if they want to keep Nijman as experienced insurance or look for a help at left tackle elsewhere. Starting center Cade Mays and versatile veterans Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen are also set to become free agents in 2026. Christensen has been on the shelf since the midway point of the season with an Achilles injury.

    According to Over the Cap, the Panthers are projected to have the third-highest offensive line payroll in the NFL in 2026. That $86.6 million total is without Mays, Nijman, Corbett and Christensen factored into the math.

    This story was originally published January 11, 2026 at 12:49 PM.

    Mike Kaye

    The Charlotte Observer

    Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription

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    Mike Kaye

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  • The Green Bay Packers Are Dealt A Blow As David Bakhtiari Is Out Vs. Commanders

    The Green Bay Packers Are Dealt A Blow As David Bakhtiari Is Out Vs. Commanders

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    The mystery of David Bakhtiari’s surgically repaired left knee continues.

    And today will mark the 20th Sunday the Green Bay Packers will be without their former Pro Bowl left tackle since the start of the 2021 season.

    Bakhtiari, who’s had three knee surgeries since tearing his ACL on Dec. 30, 2020, was declared inactive for Green Bay’s game today at Washington.

    Bakhtiari played just 27 snaps in 2021, with those coming in the regular season finale against Detroit. When the Packers faced San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs two weeks later, Bakhtiari still wasn’t ready to go.

    Bakhtiari was inactive the first two games of this season, then split time at left tackle with Yosh Nijman in Week 3. That day, Bakhtiari played 56% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps.

    Bakhtiari’s snap count rose to 96% in a Week 4 win over New England, dipped to 40% in Week 5 when the Packers traveled to London, and jumped back to 95% in a Week 6 loss to the New York Jets.

    “Dave’s done a great job,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Friday. “Certainly, you could feel his presence out there in terms of not only the play — I think his play has gotten better and better each and every week, as well.

    “But it’s nice, it’s comforting, I think, for Aaron (Rodgers), for the rest of the guys in the huddle. Dave’s played a lot of ball. Hopefully, we can keep building him up and building him up, where you don’t worry about it.”

    Bakhtiari was limited in practice all week. Then on Saturday, his status on the injury report was changed to questionable with his knee injury.

    Green Bay allowed four sacks and nine quarterback hits in a loss to the Jets last week. The Packers were planning for an offensive line makeover this week, and even without Bakhtiari, appear ready to stick with that plan.

    Rookie fourth round draft pick Zach Tom appears likely to replace Bakhtiari at left tackle. Nijman will move to right tackle, Elgton Jenkins will slide inside to left guard and Jon Runyan will move from left guard to right guard.

    That means center Josh Myers is the only offensive lineman starting at the same spot he did last week. Making Green Bay’s challenge even tougher is Washington ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks.

    “They just wreck havoc on an offensive line and the teams they’ve played and certainly a really talented group,” LaFleur said about the Commanders’ defensive line. “I think they’re well coached, they give great effort. So it’s going to be a great test for us.”

    One they’ll have to pass without Bakhtiari.

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    Rob Reischel, Contributor

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