Protecting Bryce Young: Is Ikem Ekwonu a concern on Panthers' O-line?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers protected left tackle Ikem Ekwonu a lot during his 2022 rookie season.

The No. 6 overall pick played only three snaps with four or more wide receivers on the field. In the first half of the season, when the Panthers ran a spread offense, they gave him double-team help. By midseason, they turned to a power running game, which added an extra lineman or tight end to help.

Now his job is to protect the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, quarterback Bryce Young, in coach Frank Reich’s spread offense, which is centered on four- and five-receiver sets.

So far, that hasn’t gone well.

On 18 pass-blocking snaps in two preseason games, Ekwonu has given up a sack…