The Carolina Panthers were humiliated on home turf against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7. But their dismal blowout loss wasn't the worst part of the afternoon.
Veteran right tackle Taylor Moton's injury was deeply concerning. And head coach Dave Canales looked somber when discussing his status after the contest.
Moton went down heavily in the second half, when left tackle Rasheed Walker fell into his teammate after being overwhelmed on a bull rush. The cart came out immediately, and the worried faces from players on both sides told their own story.
Carolina Panthers will now have to cope without Taylor Moton once again
When the Panthers initially said Moton was questionable to return with an ankle problem, fans felt instant relief. It didn't last, and the former Western Michigan star was then ruled out with an ankle/fibula issue.
Naming the exact bone is never good.
Canales said that Moton would be out for a while. The veteran fractured his fibula and suffered a serious ankle injury that requires additional tests. Now, the Panthers will be without one of their franchise cornerstones for the foreseeable future.
This is heartbreaking, especially given how hard Moton worked to get back into the lineup.
Last weekend's triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles was Moton's triumphant return. He'd been out for months after being diagnosed with blood clots. The 2017 second-round pick played every snap and didn't skip a beat, which gave everyone a massive lift.
Taylor Moton's latest injury heartbreak comes at the worst time
Unfortunately, another setback has arrived quickly. And this is the latest in a series of injury problems this team is dealing with.
The Panthers are well-versed in coping without Moton, which is something amid the disappointment.
Rookie first-round pick Monroe Freeling will likely return to the starting lineup at right tackle. He filled in for Moton early in the campaign, so it should help ensure the team loses little momentum despite the drop-off in experience.
This also means Walker will have to stay on the blindside, and the Panthers just have to hope he can step up.
Walker was abysmal against the Buccaneers. According to Next Gen Stats, he gave up three sacks and six pressures, which is simply unacceptable. But without Moton and with Ikem Ekwonu still rehabbing a torn patellar tendon, Canales has no choice but to keep him in the lineup.
This is a massive disappointment. Moton's presence was sorely missed this season, and just when it looked like he was right back to his best, he's now out indefinitely.
What matters for the Panthers is making sure this doesn't derail their playoff aspirations. And the time for half measures is over after such an embarrassing loss at Bank of America Stadium.
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