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Panthers Place Taylor Moton on Injured Reserve
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- Panthers Place Taylor Moton on Injured Reserve
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
As expected, the Carolina Panthers placed RT Taylor Moton on injured reserve on Monday.
Moton suffered a fractured fibula on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Moton pounded the turf while holding his left leg following a Yaya Diaby sack on quarterback Bryce Young with 14:13 left in the third quarter. Trainers immediately ran over to Moton, examined his leg and put him on the back of a cart, which took him into the home tunnel.
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"I feel for [Moton] so much," Young said. "Such a great human being -- such a great guy. He's so much of the glue for us in the locker room. Obviously, he's been with us for long; that veteran presence means so much. He worked so hard to get back to where it was. It was obviously killing him not being able to be out there to start the year ... and [I'm] just praying for him. He's as resilient as they come."
Moton's ailment added injury to insult, as Carolina failed to show up in all three phases of the game against Tampa Bay.
Young turned the ball over three times -- including two interceptions -- and was pulled for backup Kenny Pickett in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand. The defense gave up 258 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, while Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield threw the ball only 11 times for seven completions, 64 yards and a touchdown.
Special teams made several gaffes, including a muffed punt and a blocked extra point that was returned to the opposing end zone for a two-point score for Tampa Bay.
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"It doesn't feel great, obviously," Young said. "We're all competitors. Losing, especially losing like that, hurts."
The Buccaneers scored 22 points off miscues -- 19 in the first half alone -- which helped Tampa Bay lean on its running game to close out the lopsided NFC South battle.
The Panthers won't have much time to dwell on the blowout home loss, as they'll travel to Green Bay to face the Packers on Thursday Night Football in Week 8. Carolina remains at the top of the division at 3-3, but the loss to Tampa Bay makes the Panthers 1-1 against the NFC South this season.
"We don't have the luxury to lick our wounds here," Young said. "We play Thursday. You've got to turn the page. We don't have a choice. So, obviously, learn from it, watch the film, grow, and then we've got to move right on to Green Bay."
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Young entered the Panthers-Buccaneers game with 1,549 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns. He was playing like a superstar.
After his poor performance against Tampa Bay, questions will not emerge as to whether the Panthers should sign Young to an extension next offseason.
Young is making $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million. Carolina picked it up in the offseason.
The Panthers didn't sign Young to an extension, so he has to play well again this season to earn one next offseason.
Young led the Panthers to the playoffs last season, where Carolina lost to the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game at home. It's been impressive to watch Young's turnaround in Carolina. Remember, Young was benched for Andy Dalton in 2024. When that happened, many people thought Young's days in Carolina were over.
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It's only one game, so we can't be too hard on Young, who has 1,712 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns and four interceptions this season. However, if the Alabama product plays badly again against the Packers, there will be a lot of noise in Carolina about how Young is not a franchise QB.
