EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton's 2026 season will be limited to seven quarters of action.The longtime starting lineman will undergo season-ending ankle surgery while also recovering from a fractured fibula in his left leg, coach Dave Canales said Monday."He's got a fracture in his fibula, up high, below the knee," Canales said. "It was really the ankle that got damaged the most with ligaments and all that. So, he'll have a procedure and that'll put him out for the rest of the year."Moton, 32, was carted off the field during the third quarter of Sunday's 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That exit occurred during his second game back from offseason blood clot treatment, which sidelined him from the start of training camp through the first four games of the campaign on the non-football injury list."We're all hurt for [Moton]," Canales said. "But we know what he represents and how he battled to get back out there."Moton was replaced by first-round pick Monroe Freeling, who previously filled in for Moton at right tackle during the first four games of the season. Freeling, who was coming off a knee injury, gave up three quarterback pressures in 22 pass sets after replacing Moton, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.With Freeling back at right tackle, left tackle Rasheed Walker will continue to man the blind side. The former Green Bay Packers lineman was credited with three sacks and seven total pressures allowed against Tampa Bay by NFL Next Gen Stats. One of those sacks led to a fumble by quarterback Bryce Young that was recovered by the defense for a touchdown in the 30-point blowout.Canales was asked for an update on longtime starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu (patellar tendon), who has been sidelined the entire season and remains on the physically unable to perform list heading into Week 8. While Canales couldn't put a timeline on Ekwonu's recovery, he did offer optimism regarding his progression following knee surgery."Every week seems like good milestones -- good progression," Canales said. "I can't tell you exactly how close that is, how far that is, but I know that he's trending in the right direction, getting into some more individual drills, where he can really start to load and anchor and all those things. But it's gotta get to a point where we feel really comfortable about sending somebody at him full speed and do all that. We're not quite there yet."The Panthers have a quick turnaround ahead of their "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. On Monday, the team hosted a walk-through without four current starters. Left guard Damien Lewis (knee), outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (hand) and fill-in starting cornerback Akayleb Evans (triceps/knee) were all sidelined.Wide receiver Jalen Coker (shoulder) -- who was limited -- and Young -- who was a full participant -- were also on the projected injury report.
