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Will Panthers OT Ikem Ekwonu play Week 1 vs. Jaguars?

The Carolina Panthers may not have Ikem Ekwonu when facing off against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jeremy Brener|
NFL Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu
NFL Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are starting their season off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, but a few players will have to wait to make their 2025 debuts.

The Panthers have listed rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, wide receiver Dalevon Campbell, tight end James Mitchell and defensive tackle Cam Jackson as the inactive players against the Jags, according to The Athletic insider Joe Person.

The most notable name on the list is Ekwonu, a former first-round pick expected to be in the starting lineup. With his absence, the Panthers will have Yosh Nijman taking his place as a starter with Brady Christensen serving as the swing tackle.

Ekwonu's absence isn't a surprise for the Panthers considering he was listed as doubtful for the game in Friday's injury report. He had recently undergone an appendectomy and Friday marked his return to the practice field, albeit in a limited fashion. Ekwonu missed two games last season for the Panthers in the middle of the season, but Carolina came on top in both of those games. Perhaps that could serve as a good omen for the Panthers in their game today against the Jags.

The Jaguars will also have a few people down. Cornerback Montaric Brown, offensive linemen Wyatt Milum and Cole Van Lanen and defensive linemen Danny Striggow, Maason Smith and B.J. Green II will be in street clothes for Jacksonville.

Kickoff between the Panthers and Jaguars is set for 1 p.m. ET inside EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu during the second half at Bank of America Stadium
Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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