Taylor Moton – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Panthers Week 4 injury report: Starting LG Damien Lewis out vs. Bengals

As expected, Panthers G Damien Lewis will not suit up for Sunday’s clash with the Bengals.

Carolina Panthers starting left guard Damien Lewis may have to save his big boy pants for next week.

As expected, the fifth-year hog molly will not suit up for Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Lewis, who tore his UCL in the Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, did not participate in any of the team’s practices this week.

Second-year lineman and 2023 fourth-round pick Chandler Zavala is set to get the nod in place of Lewis.

In an unexpected hiccup, however, fellow starting guard Robert Hunt was limited in today’s practice with a hip injury. He is considered questionable and would, per head coach Dave Canales, give way to Brady Christensen if he cannot go.

In addition, wide receiver Diontae Johnson is on track to play after missing Thursday’s practice. Johnson, who dealt with a groin strain during the summer, sat out of the rainy session as a precautionary measure.

Here’s Friday’s injury report in its entirety:

	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game status
OLB Jadeveon Clowney	Rest	DNP	Full	Full	–
DL A’Shawn Robinson	Knee	DNP	Limited	Limited	Questionable
CB Lonnie Johnson	Hip	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
G Damien Lewis	Elbow	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
DL Shy Tuttle	Foot	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
RB Chuba Hubbard	Rest	Limited	Full	Full	–
S Nick Scott	Quadriceps	Limited	Limited	Limited	–
QB Andy Dalton	Ankle	Full	Full	Full	–
WR Diontae Johnson	Groin		DNP	Limited	Questionable
OT Taylor Moton	Rest		DNP	Full	–
G Robert Hunt	Hip			Limited	Questionable

[lawrence-related id=704104,704064,704021]

Key matchups for Panthers vs. Raiders in Week 3

The Panthers’ hog mollies will have their hands full in Las Vegas on Sunday.

If the Carolina Panthers are to lucky against the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City on Sunday, here are four key matchups that will help them hit the jackpot . . .

Panthers RT Taylor Moton vs. Raiders DE Maxx Crosby

If Carolina wants to get its passing game going, they’ll have to keep Crosby away from new starting quarterback Andy Dalton as much as possible. That’ll be the primary job of Moton, who is coming off another tough assignment out of the AFC West in Joey Bosa.

The eighth-year hog molly, per Pro Football Focus, allowed zero pressures in the 26-3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Panthers G Austin Corbett and RG Robert Hunt vs. Raiders DT Christian Wilkins

If Carolina wants to establish the run, then they’ll have keep Wilkins (if he plays) from eating up space. Just as a reminder, it was Wilkins who held the single-season tackles record for a defensive lineman before Carolina’s Derrick Brown broke it in 2023.

Like their line mate in Moton, both Corbett and Hunt have been reliable in passing game—as opponents have produced just one pressure against the duo. Hunt, in particular, is also thriving through the ground—as he’s earned a 73.8 run-blocking grade from PFF.

Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney vs. Raiders RT Thayer Munford Jr.

Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew has recorded 428 passing yards from a clean pocket, the third-highest such total thus far. So he may have himself quite a day against the Carolina defense, which has tallied only two takedowns of opposing quarterbacks.

Clowney has to get it going against Munford Jr., who has been charged with a pair of sacks entering Week 3.

Panthers ILB Shaq Thompson vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

Bowers is a pretty special talent at the tight end position, and the defensive deployments for the rookie have proven exactly that. The 13th overall pick, who is already at 156 receiving yards and 17 targets, has been lined up against linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties in his first two pro games.

The Raiders will probably try to get him matched with the ‘backers as much as they can on Sunday.

[lawrence-related id=703690,703667,703644]

Panthers Week 3 injury report: Starting DL Shy Tuttle doubtful vs. Raiders

The Panthers will likely be without another starting defensive lineman in Week 3.

The Carolina Panthers may have even more troubling defending the run.

Friday’s injury report for this weekend’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders lists starting nose tackle Shy Tuttle as doubtful. Tuttle missed the entire of week practice due to a foot injury.

If Tuttle is indeed out, the Panthers will be missing two of their three opening-day starters on the defensive line—as Pro Bowler Derrick Brown is already shut down for the remainder of the campaign due to a torn meniscus. Oh, and they could possibly be down all three, as A’Shawn Robinson has been deemed questionable with a knee issue.

Carolina is currently carrying three other defensive linemen on their active roster (Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray and Jayden Peevy) and two on their practice squad (DeShawn Williams and T.J. Smith).

Here’s the team’s final injury report for Week 3:

	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game status
DL A’Shawn Robinson	Knee	DNP	Limited	Limited	Questionable
DL Shy Tuttle	Foot	DNP	DNP	DNP	Doubtful
OLB Jadeveon Clowney	Rest	DNP	Full	Full	–
TE Feleipe Franks	Personal	DNP	Full	Full	–
G Robert Hunt	Shoulder	Limited	Full	Full	–
G Damien Lewis	Groin	Limited	Full	Full	–
TE Tommy Tremble	Hamstring/back	Limited	Limited	Limited	–
OT Taylor Moton	Rest		DNP	Full	–
CB Lonnie Johnson	Thigh		Limited	Limited	Questionable
S Nick Scott	Neck		Limited	Limited	Questionable

[lawrence-related id=703695,703667,703644]

3 key matchups for Raiders vs Panthers

At first glance, it would appear the Panthers don’t have a lot going for them. That may be true. But they’re still an NFL team with NFL players who can jump up and bite you if you’re not careful.

And the Raiders may be coming off an impressive comeback win against the Ravens in Baltimore, but that doesn’t mean they’ve clearly established themselves as some elite team. They still have to prove it over the season with their opponents collecting more and more game tape on them.

These matchups could play a major role in the outcome of this game.

CB Jack Jones vs WR Xavier Legette

Legette was the Panthers’ top pick in this year’s draft. He led the team in catches (4) in the opener, but didn’t see a target last week in a loss to the Chargers. Now the Chargers have benched Bryce Young in favor of Andy Dalton, which figures to at least awaken the pass game. This would, in turn, see Legette get some more targets as their best receiver.

Legette will face off against a fiery competitor in Jack Jones who has great hands as well to make Dalton pay for any mistakes.

TE Brock Bowers vs Xavier Woods/Jordan Fuller

Woods and Fuller are the safeties for the Panthers. They will switch off in trying to keep the Raiders phenom tight end under wraps. Bowers has 15 catches already this season and is proving himself to be a top target for Gardner Minshew. You can bet on any given play either Woods or Fuller will guarding Bowers.

DE Maxx Crosby vs T Taylor Moton

Moton will be tasked with trying to keep Crosby from wrecking this game. The veteran tackle is no slouch. This is his seventh season as the Panthers’ full time starting right tackle. And he’s never missed a game. So, it’s safe to say there isn’t a caliber of edge rusher in this league he hasn’t faced. Including last week when he faced Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. The only sack allowed was not on Moton, but Bryce Young for not stepping up into the pocket.

Andy Dalton will need at least a bit of time to try and find an open receiver. He can’t be worrying he’s going to get smacked in under two seconds on every play or running for his life all day. That’s what Crosby did to Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson the first two weeks. Last week against the Ravens, he went on to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Panthers boast some of PFF’s highest-graded OLs entering Week 3

The hog mollies in Carolina have been putting in work to start the season.

Between their disappointing 0-2 start and the benching of last year’s No. 1 overall pick, the Carolina Panthers haven’t given fans much reason to smile to start the 2024 campaign. But there may just be one thing in Charlotte worth celebrating.

The hog mollies have flown under the radar in the first two weeks of the season. A major point of emphasis during the spring, the retooled offensive line is churning out some of the best numbers in the NFL thus far.

According to Pro Football Focus, it’s Austin Corbett who’s leading all players at his position in pass protection. The guard-turned-center has yet to relinquish a single pressure and currently has an 83.5 pass-blocking grade—the highest at the spot.

Robert Hunt, Corbett’s reason for his transition to the middle, has been getting some work in as well. The $100 million man is earning his huge deal to this point, ranking second amongst all guards with an 86.0 pass-blocking mark.

Fellow free-agent signee and guard Damien Lewis isn’t too shabby either, ranking 16th in the category with a 76.6 grade.

While both tackles for the Panthers fall a bit behind their interior, they have still been solid. Right tackle Taylor Moton, in particular, grades out as the 15th-best offensive tackle in pass protection (77.6).

So even though the offense as a whole has been hindered by suboptimal quarterback play, one could point to this offensive line as a reason to still have hope for the group. And with a more functional quarterback under center, perhaps the team can actually find its first win (and smiles) of the season.

[lawrence-related id=703667,703662,703644]

Panthers DT Shy Tuttle remains out of practice on Thursday

A foot injury has kept DT Shy Tuttle out of practice for the second consecutive day.

The Carolina Panthers probably won’t have another one of their opening-day starting defensive linemen in Week 3.

Nose tackle Shy Tuttle remained out of practice on Thursday due to a foot injury. The 28-year-old defender, who is in his second season with the Panthers, was also a non-participant for yesterday’s session.

Line mate A’Shawn Robinson, however, did return to the practice field after also sitting Wednesday out. Robinson (knee) was listed as a limited participant.

Carolina is already without Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn meniscus.

Here is the full injury report from the afternoon:

	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game status
DL A’Shawn Robinson	Knee	DNP	Limited
DL Shy Tuttle	Foot	DNP	DNP
OLB Jadeveon Clowney	Rest	DNP	Full
TE Feleipe Franks	Personal	DNP	Full
G Robert Hunt	Shoulder	Limited	Full
G Damien Lewis	Groin	Limited	Full
TE Tommy Tremble	Hamstring/back	Limited	Limited
OT Taylor Moton	Rest		DNP
CB Lonnie Johnson	Thigh		Limited
S Nick Scott	Neck		Limited

[lawrence-related id=703667,703662,703644]

Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ Week 2 loss to Chargers

Once again, QB Bryce Young finished with the worst offensive grade for the Panthers.

The Carolina Panthers gave us some more of the same here in Week 2. Sunday’s home opener, like last week’s regular-season opener, yielded a punchless performance—leading to a 26-3 loss at the hands of the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.

Their outing also led to some more of the same from Pro Football Focus.

Here are the best and worst grades from the latest defeat:

Best of the offense

1. RG Robert Hunt: 74.1
2. TE Jordan Matthews: 69.8
3. RT Taylor Moton: 67.1
4. RB Miles Sanders: 67.0
5. RB Chuba Hubbard: 65.7

Both Hunt, who finished in the top five last week, and Moton didn’t allow a single pressure.

Hubbard led the offense with 64 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Worst of the offense

12. WR Jonathan Mingo: 52.3
13. LG Damien Lewis: 51.6
14. WR Xavier Legette: 51.1
15. TE Ja’Tavion Sanders: 42.1
16. QB Bryce Young: 38.8

Young ends up at the very bottom for the second straight game, passing for a career-low 84 yards and an interception. His 32.6 grade last week and his 38.8 grade this week account for second- and third-worst PFF marks of his career.

Best of the defense

1. FS Jordan Fuller: 74.1
2. CB Jaycee Horn: 69.5
3. CB Mike Jackson: 65.7
4. ILB Shaq Thompson: 65.4
5. DT Jayden Peevy: 58.6

Horn bounced back after being on the butt of a 29-yard touchdown pass to wideout Quentin Johnston in the first quarter. He allowed just five more receiving yards the rest of the way out while picking up his first interception of the season and three stops.

Worst of the defense

12. OLB Eku Leota: 49.4
13. DE A’Shawn Robinson: 46.2
14. DT Nick Thurman: 45.4
15. DE LaBryan Ray: 43.1
16. OLB Jadeveon Clowney: 30.5

Clowney was tied for a team-high two pressures, but was charged with a pair of catches for 30 yards.

[lawrence-related id=703386,703388,703367]

Key matchups for Panthers vs. Chargers in Week 2

Quite a few Panthers fans wanted WR Ladd McConkey out of this year’s draft. But now, the Chargers rookie may be a thorn in their team’s side this weekend.

Here are the four most important battles within Sunday’s Week 2 war between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers:

Panthers OTs Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton vs. Chargers OLBs Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa

Don’t let the pair of Pro Bowl pass rushers get to your quarterback. Obvious, right?

Well, unfortunately for the Las Vegas Raiders, the pair of Pro Bowl pass rushers got to theirs last week. Bosa and Mack combined for 2.5 sacks and eight pressures of Gardner Minshew, helping keep their division rivals to just 10 points on the afternoon.

Ekwonu and Moton, although relatively solid in their 2024 debuts, combined to allow six pressures of Bryce Young in Week 1.

Panthers HC Dave Canales vs. Chargers S Derwin James

Speaking of Young being pressured, the second-year quarterback ate three sacks from cornerback (yes, cornerback) Alontae Taylor in the regular-season opener. The Panthers simply had no answer to the New Orleans Saints’ nickel blitzes.

So you better believe that the Chargers will move their chess piece James towards the pocket at least a few times. It’s up to Canales, who spoke about putting Young in better protection schemes this week, to find a way to neutralize that part of the All-Pro safety’s game.

Panthers’ front seven vs. Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins

The Panthers, even with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, allowed the Saints to march on them for 180 rushing yards. Now, they’re without Brown—and are set to face off against a run-heavy offense.

Last week’s ground attack for Los Angeles was led by running back J.K. Dobbins, who notched 135 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries. And included in those 10 attempts were runs of 46 and 61 yards.

Carolina’s front seven can’t allow Dobbins to escape through their levels in ripping off another long run or two.

Panthers CB Troy Hill vs. Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

McConkey, a draft darling of quite a few Panthers fans this offseason, was quarterback Justin Herbert’s top target in Week 1—tallying team-highs in receptions (five), targets (seven), receiving yards (39) and receiving touchdowns (one).

Per Pro Football Focus, 14 of his 23 snaps in passing situations came out of the slot. So the rookie will be the primary responsibility for the nickel corner Hill, who saw 26 looks (20 more than the next closest Panther) from the slot in New Orleans.

[lawrence-related id=703209,703190,703159]

Panthers add starting ILB Josey Jewell to injury report on Thursday

The Panthers added three players to their injury report on Thursday, including ILB Josey Jewell.

The Carolina Panthers added a trio of new faces to their Week 2 injury report on Thursday. Only one, however, could be a cause for concern.

Starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell popped up on this afternoon’s listing with a groin issue. The seventh-year veteran was down as a limited participant for today’s practice.

Jewell’s addition was joined by that of offensive tackle Taylor Moton and running back/return specialist Raheem Blackshear. Both absences, however, were not injury-related—as Moton received rest and Blackshear was away due to personal reasons.

In a bit of good news, three players received a bump in their statuses—offensive tackle Yosh Nijman, outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and punter Johnny Hekker.

	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game status
P Johnny Hekker	Back	DNP	Limited
OLB Jadeveon Clowney	Ankle	DNP	Limited
G Robert Hunt	Shoulder	Limited	Limited
G Damien Lewis	Groin	Limited	Limited
OT Yosh Nijman	Tibia	Limited	Full
TE Tommy Tremble	Hamstring/back	Limited	Limited
RB Raheem Blackshear	Personal		DNP
OT Taylor Moton	Rest		DNP
ILB Josey Jewell	Groin		Limited

[lawrence-related id=703209,703203,703190]

Panthers add nearly $11 million in cap space after restructuring contracts on Wednesday

The Panthers restructured the contracts of OT Taylor Moton and DL Shy Tuttle, freeing up $10.7 million in cap space.

The Carolina Panthers made money moves on Wednesday.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the team has created $10.7 million in salary cap space after restructuring the contracts of offensive tackle Taylor Moton and defensive lineman Shy Tuttle.

Moton, who is in his eighth NFL campaign, has now had his contract restructured in each of the past three offseasons. The former second-round pick has appeared in every one of Carolina’s 115 regular-season games since being drafted in 2017 and hasn’t missed a single offensive snap over the past four years.

Tuttle joined the Panthers last spring, when he signed a three-year, $19.5 million deal with the previous front office alignment headed by former general manager Scott Fitterer. He started all 17 games in 2023—recording 43 combined tackles, half a sack and five passes defensed.

Prior to the adjustments for Moton and Tuttle, the Panthers were approximately $4.5 million over the salary cap—the highest amount in the league. The moves should now put them back under the mark.

[lawrence-related id=702770,702755,702759]