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Carolina Panthers Superstar Will Miss Start Of 2026 NFL Season With Scary Blood Clot Issue

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

A Carolina Panthers helmet on the field.
A Carolina Panthers helmet. Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers have taken a significant hit just weeks before training camp opens.

Panthers fans learned on Tuesday that starting right tackle Taylor Moton received a diagnosis of blood clots in his lung. He’s already receiving treatment, and while he’s expected to return at some point during the 2026 season, the team has no firm timetable for when that will happen.

Taylor Moton’s Health Update Comes At A Tough Time

Taylor Moton during a game.
Taylor Moton. Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe broke the news, reporting that Moton is receiving treatment for blood clots and will start training camp on the non-football injury list.

“Panthers RT Taylor Moton is receiving treatment for blood clots and starts training camp on non-football injury list,” Wolfe reported. “Moton expected to miss start of season but belief is he plays in 2026. Panthers OTs Rasheed Walker and 1st rd pick Monroe Freeling as top options to play.”

The timing stings for a Panthers team hoping to build on a surprising 2025 season, one that saw Bryce Young lead Carolina to the playoffs despite an 8-9 record. Losing Moton also removes one of the most durable players on the roster; he started 15 of 17 games last season and has appeared in 145 games since entering the league in 2017. That kind of reliability matters even more given Carolina’s plans to lean on Young as the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback after picking up his fifth-year option earlier this year.

Taylor Moton’s Absence Puts Pressure On Panthers’ Line Depth

Dec 10, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (71) talks with Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton (72) after the game at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Blood clots in the lung, known medically as pulmonary embolisms, can range from mild to life-threatening depending on severity, and treatment often requires blood thinners and close monitoring. The Panthers haven’t disclosed additional details about Moton’s specific condition or recovery timeline beyond Wolfe’s report.

On the bright side for Carolina, the drop-off in talent may not be steep. Freeling earned All-SEC honors at Georgia before Carolina used the 19th overall pick on him this spring, a selection that was seen as one of the stronger value picks of the entire draft at the time. The Panthers also entered the offseason looking to surround Young with more protection, part of a broader effort that made him one of the league’s players with no excuses left heading into 2026.

Carolina opens its 2026 season on Sept. 13 against the Chicago Bears, and the Panthers now have several weeks to sort out their line combinations before Moton, hopefully, rejoins the fold.

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