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The Carolina Panthers will be without right tackle Taylor Moton for the foreseeable future.
Moton, who was in just his second game back after undergoing blood clot treatment this past offseason, fractured his fibula in their 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. While specifics aren’t yet known, head coach Dave Canales confirmed Moton will be sidelined indefinitely.
“TMo is gonna be out for a while,” Canales said, via the Charlotte Observer’s Alex Zietlow. “He got rolled up on pretty good … Just sick for TMo.”
Moton went down after Tampa Bay linebacker Yaya Diaby sacked Bryce Young early in the second half, and was clearly in a lot of pain on the ground while holding his left leg. Moton was eventually carted off the field, and did not return.
Moton, 32, is in his 10th season in the league with the Panthers after they selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan. He’s been a staple on their offensive line throughout his career, but he’s only appeared in seven quarters for the team this fall.
Moton was diagnosed with a blood clot in one of his lungs in June, and had been undergoing treatment ever since. He only made it back onto the field for last week’s 25-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Without Moton around, Monroe Freeling will certainly jump back in to replace him. Freeling, who the Panthers took with the No. 19 overall pick out of Georgia earlier this year, was starting in place of Moton to start the season.
Sunday’s loss dropped the Panthers to 3-3 on the season. Bucky Irving ran for a pair of touchdowns for the Buccaneers, and they forced four Panthers turnovers, in the blowout win. The Panthers will take on the Green Bay Packers next on Thursday night.