Panthers starters Taylor Moton, Jaycee Horn to start training camp on NFI list

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers will open camp this week without two veteran starters.

Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn and right tackle Taylor Moton will be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list, the team announced Tuesday. Horn is not expected to miss much time after receiving stitches in his foot for a cut he sustained while running, according to the Panthers.

Moton’s situation is more involved. The 31-year-old will miss the start of the regular season after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung in late June. Moton was placed on blood thinners and is undergoing treatment.

The Panthers last summer signed Moton to a two-year, $44 million extension through the 2027 season. He has cap hits of $21.1 million and $28.4 million the next two years, according to Over the Cap.

With Moton out and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu still sidelined following January knee surgery, first-round pick Monroe Freeling figures to be thrown immediately into the offensive line mix. The Panthers looked to be bringing Freeling along slowly in the spring, when he played behind free-agent acquisition Rasheed Walker at left tackle.

But the Panthers no longer have the luxury of easing in Freeling, who started only 17 games at Georgia. Brady Christensen, who re-signed with the Panthers last week, also has experience at tackle.

As for Horn’s spot opposite Mike Jackson, the Panthers have several younger options, including rookie Will Lee, Chau Smith-Wade and Corey Thornton.