The Carolina Panthers had one major injury to navigate before their Week 1 opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the interior offensive line duo of Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt didn't carry a designation into the clash, all eyes were pointing toward left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
After undergoing an emergency appendectomy, Ekwonu didn't practice much (if at all) this week. The Panthers officially listed him as doubtful for the contest, with head coach Dave Canales eager to take the final decision right up to the deadline.
That gave Ekwonu the slimmest of chances to make the lineup, although it always seemed unlikely.