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Panthers Must Fix Left Tackle And Center Now
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- Panthers Must Fix Left Tackle And Center Now
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The Carolina Panthers offensive line is a mess, and the team cannot keep pretending it will fix itself. After a 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, the unit has become the main reason the offense stalls. Head coach Dave Canales acknowledged the possibility of changes in the offensive trenches.
Swap the Starters at Center and Left Tackle
First, the Panthers must bench veteran Luke Fortner at center. He has been a major disappointment for the team this year. Pro Football Focus reports Fortner has an overall grade of 53.3, placing him 30th among 35 qualifying centers. That is not good enough for a player who should be leading the line. Rookie Matt Hecht might not be perfect, but he cannot be worse than the current production. Hecht allowed just seven pressures in his final college season and zero sacks over 850 pass-blocking opportunities. The team should give the rookie a real shot to see if he can handle the job better than Fortner.
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Rasheed Walker was a bargain signing, but he has turned into the worst starter on the entire line. He keeps getting beat in pass protection and commits too many penalties. His PFF grade sits at 56.8, ranking 61st out of 71 qualifying offensive tackles across the league. Xavier Freeling, the replacement for 2026 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu, is on the roster. Freeling spent practically his entire college career on the blindside at Georgia. For the remainder of the season, Freeling is slated to start at left tackle and Walker will move to the bench, per reports. This move alone could stop the constant pressure on the quarterback.
Find a Real Tackle Before the Deadline
Shuffling the bench players creates a hole on the right side. The logical name to fill that spot is Stone Forsythe, but he is not a great option. He is at best a below-average backup and cannot be counted on to start. With the NFL trade deadline approaching in one week, the Panthers must utilize it. They should look at Houston's Braden Smith or Miami's Austin Jackson. These players are available and would be a massive upgrade over what the team has now. The Panthers do not need to aim too high given their situation, but they must find someone who can actually protect the blindside.
Canales said the changes come from the staff and their expectations for the players. "The urgency really just comes from myself, our staff, our expectations for our players, across the board," Canales explained. The team is 3-4 and still leads the NFC South, but the record is misleading. The defense is struggling with injuries, and the offense cannot help them if the line keeps collapsing. Canales added that he wants his staff to feel confident in him. "We have a staff that's committed to doing things the right way, and I want them to feel that confidence in me," Canales added.
The Panthers face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 8 at Bank of America Stadium. The Broncos are a tough 6-2 team, and the Panthers need a solid offensive line to have a chance.
