Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu questionable for season-opener vs Jaguars after emergency appendectomy surgery

Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu may not be ready for the squad s season-opening challenge against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he underwent emergency appendectomy surgery last week Ekwonu went to the band facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain He was checked by the squad s clinical staff who recommended urgency surgery Panthers coach Dave Canales stated reporters last Wednesday that Ekwonu would be day-to-day all the way up until the encounter CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMEkwonu did not participate in the team's practice on Monday per the team's website The Panthers selected Ekwonu with the No overall pick in the NFL Draft and the North Carolina State product has been durable through his first three seasons in the NFL Ekwonu started all games in each of his first two seasons and started of games last season Players recovery times for appendix procedures vary Then-Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed only eight days in while former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari missed three games that same season after the procedure DAK PRESCOTT REACTS TO MICAH PARSONS EXCHANGE TO PACKERS 'I WASN T SURPRISED'If Ekwonu is unable to start against the Jaguars the gang will likely turn to backup Yosh Nijman Nijman is set to enter his sixth season in the NFL He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers and the last two with the Panthers The -year-old started of the games he appeared in Last season he started three games at right tackle when Taylor Moton was injured The Panthers play the Jaguars on the road on Sept at p m ET Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter