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The Carolina Panthers face mounting challenges along their offensive line as veteran right tackle Taylor Moton has been ruled out for the start of the 2026 regular season. Moton, 31, was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left lung in late June and was officially placed on the non-football injury list Tuesday, the team confirmed.
Moton’s injury compounds existing concerns for a Panthers squad eyeing a second consecutive NFC South title after last season’s playoff run. The offensive lineman has been prescribed blood thinners and is responding positively to treatment, with Carolina’s medical staff monitoring his condition on a daily basis.
Starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu remains unavailable as he continues recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon sustained during the Panthers’ playoff game in January. The combination of injuries forces Carolina to lean on depth options and recent acquisitions to protect quarterback Bryce Young in 2026.
Carolina bolstered its offensive line options by signing veteran tackle Rasheed Walker in March and selecting offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the 18th overall pick in April’s draft. Moton, a second-round selection by the Panthers in 2017 from Western Michigan, has completed all nine seasons of his NFL career with the franchise.
Defensive back Jaycee Horn also joined the non-football injury list this week after cutting his foot while running. The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback appeared in 16 games last season despite missing a Week 12 matchup against San Francisco.
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