Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu will undergo surgery after tearing his right patellar tendon during Saturday’s NFC wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Dave Canales announced Sunday. The injury casts a shadow over the team’s plans and raises questions about the future of the young player.
The immediate outlook for Ekwonu’s availability for the start of the 2026 season remains uncertain.
Ekwonu, 25, sustained the injury after playing just eight snaps on Saturday.
“We’ll give you more of an update,” Canales said following the game. “They’ve got to do all the MRIs and all that stuff, but I think it’s a significant injury, and something that we’re going to have to go into the offseason with.”
The Panthers originally selected Ekwonu with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, after his collegiate career at North Carolina State. The team had also exercised his $17.6 million fifth-year team option for the 2026 season, but this injury now complicates potential long-term contract extension negotiations.
Throughout his four seasons with Carolina, Ekwonu has been a consistent presence on the offensive line, appearing in 64 games (all starts) and playing almost every offensive snap. He has recorded two fumble recoveries during his time with the team.
