The Carolina Panthers’ left tackle Ikem Ekwonu recently underwent an emergency appendectomy. Coach Dave Canales informed reporters on Wednesday about Ekwonu’s condition, stating that his status for the team’s Week 1 match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars remains uncertain. Ekwonu, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had the procedure following a weekend visit to the team facility due to abdominal discomfort.

While there’s still hope he might be ready by September 7, Canales noted that Ekwonu would be monitored closely, considering variable recovery times for such surgeries. Canales remarked, “He had appendicitis. He wasn’t feeling good, and then ultimately went to the hospital and they said, ‘We’ve got to do surgery here. We have to remove this.’ He’s day-to-day. We’ve seen these things turn around in a little over a week—they can be longer. It just depends on each individual body, how you respond to the surgery, how your body heals the right way.”

If Ekwonu is unable to compete, Yosh Nijman, the Panthers’ leading backup with 25 career starts, is poised to step in to fill the left tackle position. The Panthers will aim to maintain their starting offensive line intact, especially since their opening week game against the Jaguars marks a significant occasion. Historically, the Panthers have had successful seasons after opening against the Jaguars in 2003 and 2015, even reaching the Super Bowl both times.