Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu Questionable for Season Opener After Emergency Appendectomy
Left tackle underwent surgery last week and has been listed day-to-day, coach says
Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is listed as questionable for the team's season-opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last week.
Ekwonu, 24, reported to the Panthers' facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain and was evaluated by the team's medical staff, who recommended immediate surgery. Coach Dave Canales told reporters last Wednesday that Ekwonu would be "day-to-day, all the way up until the game." The team’s website listed Ekwonu as not participating in Monday’s practice.
The Panthers selected Ekwonu with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State. He has been a near-constant presence on the offensive line during his first three NFL seasons, starting all 17 games in each of his first two seasons and 15 of 17 games last year.
The club has not provided a specific timeline for his return. Recovery times for appendectomy procedures can vary depending on the type of surgery and individual factors, and the Panthers have indicated they will continue to monitor Ekwonu’s condition on a daily basis. The team did not announce a replacement starter while Ekwonu's status remains uncertain.
Canales and the Panthers medical staff are expected to update Ekwonu’s status as the team progresses through the remainder of the week and toward the opener. The Panthers face the Jaguars in the season opener with their offensive line depth under closer scrutiny given Ekwonu’s importance as the left tackle and his history of availability over the first three years of his career.
