Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu went down early with a ruptured patellar tendon in January’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, putting his 2026 season in jeopardy. He inked former Packers’ left tackle Rasheed Walker to a one-year contract, then used the 19th overall pick in April on University of Georgia blocker Monroe Freeling. The team used the same philosophy when it came to the center position. Cade Mays was Carolina’s primary starting center this past season in the final year of his rookie contract. It’s worth noting that Mays and the Lions will be visiting Charlotte on a Sunday night in Week 4.