Carolina Panthers Monitor Injuries Ahead of Training Camp

The Carolina Panthers are monitoring several injuries ahead of training camp, with Tetairoa McMillan and Ickey Ekwonu being two key players dealing with health issues.

What are the notable injuries?

The Panthers have six notable injuries to monitor, including McMillan's foot soreness and Ekwonu's ruptured patellar tendon.

McMillan, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, was hampered by foot soreness during OTAs and minicamp, but head coach Dave Canales said his shelving was precautionary.

And the Panthers don't seem too concerned about McMillan, but his limited work in the spring raises some concerns.

How will these injuries impact the team?

The injuries could impact the team's chances of repeating as NFC South division champs, with the Panthers currently standing 4th in the National Football Conference with an 8-9 record, on a L2 streak.

Ekwonu's injury, in particular, is a concern, as he may miss the entire 2026 season, and even if he returns, he might not play up to his standard until next year.

The Panthers will face the Chicago Bears on September 13, 2026, and will need to be healthy to compete.

What comes next for the Panthers?

The Panthers will need to rely on other players, such as Monroe Freeling and Rasheed Walker, to fill the gaps left by the injured players.

Walker got the bulk of the blindside duties with the first team during the offseason program, and will likely compete with Freeling for the starting left tackle job in camp.

But the Panthers can afford to take their time with injured players like Turk Wharton, who had neck surgery, as they have some depth in the trenches.

The internal expectation is that Wharton will play at some point this year, but neck injuries can be tricky in the NFL.