Panthers’ season-long concern just took another major hit that could carry big implications for Week 6 and beyond
Taylor Moton will not play in Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys after suffering a recent injury.
The Carolina Panthers have been dealt a rough hand in 2025 when it comes to injuries but for the most part the team has been able to roll with the punches with a next man up mentality.
A clear example is running back Rico Dowdle’s performance in Week 5 starting in place of running back Chuba Hubbard. But, not every problem has such an immediate fix.
Which brings us to the Panthers offensive line, which continues to be decimated by injuries and a new name joined the growing list this week at practice.
Time to add Taylor Moton to the growing list of OL injury concerns for Carolina
Starting right tackle Taylor Moton was added to the injury report this week with an elbow injury he revealed he suffered in Week 5’s win against the Miami Dolphins and his availability for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys is now official.
Moton will not play on Sunday after not practicing once again on Friday, Yosh Nijman is the player expected to fill in as the starting right tackle against the Cowboys. Head coach Dave Canales added the hope is that it’s only a one week issue for Moton who wasn’t able to ramp up in time for Week 6.
Being without Moton is a massive blow because he’s arguably played as the team’s most consistent offensive lineman across the board looking at pass protection and run blocking. Through five weeks, Moton has the team’s third-highest pass blocking grade (71.1) and second-highest run blocking grade (78.9), according to PFF.
All of these offensive line injuries are starting to be a major lingering headache for the Panthers. In five games, the Panthers have had four different starting five combinations up-front and the only player that’s started all five games has been left guard Damien Lewis.
In the season opener, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu was held out after undergoing an appendectomy. After Week 2, the Panthers placed center Austin Corbett (knee) and right guard Robert Hunt (bicep) on the injured reserve. Two weeks later, second-string right guard Chandler Zavala (knee) was placed on the injured reserve as well.
Granted, the Panthers have had some players step up in a big way this season. Cade Mays is holding his own at center and Brady Christensen continues to be a very valuable depth player in Carolina. But, that kind of good luck from the backups won’t last forever and this could be a tough matchup for Nijman stepping in at right tackle.
Nijman did start at left tackle in Week 1 in place of Ekwonu but allowed a team-high six pressures. He did have a good game as a run blocker and playing on the right side can help Dowdle have another strong outing running to that side of the front going into his second start after Hubbard was once again ruled out for the second week in a row.
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