The Panthers are starting to get some encouraging signs on the injury front, and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is one of the biggest. Head coach Dave Canales said Ekwonu looks to be moving closer to a return, and he sounded upbeat about where the veteran lineman stands right now.
“ Ickey’s doing great, ” Canales said, via Panthers Wire. “ He had another great day on the field.
He’s going in right now to get his lift in. He’s progressing really well.
Again, every case is different. We just gotta take it with the information we have, consult our experts, consult the surgeons-all those things-get re-imaging, make sure we feel confident before putting him back out there.
“
Canales also gave updates on a pair of other Panthers injuries. He said outside linebacker Nic Scourton had “really successful surgery” on his torn ACL about two weeks ago, and third-round wide receiver Chris Brazzell also underwent surgery on his torn LCL, according to Alex Zietlow.
There was more injury news on the Carolina side as well. Mike Kaye reported that wide receiver Xavier Legette will remain in a boot through Thursday and will miss the joint practices, while quarterback Haynes King won’t play again in the preseason.
Running back Chuba Hubbard also weighed in on his own recovery. Joe Person reported that Hubbard said his hamstring feels good, but he understands the team is being careful after he may have come back too soon last season.
Roster decisions are starting to take shape too. In a recent 53-man projection, The Athletic’s Joe Person listed tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, guard Chandler Zavala, wide receiver John Metchie and safety Isaiah Simmons among Carolina’s notable cuts. He had those spots going instead to No. 3 quarterback Haynes King, No. 4 running back AJ Dillon, No. 6 wide receiver Ja’seem Reed, and recently signed offensive lineman Jake Curhan.
In New Orleans, Kendre Miller is trying to turn a difficult start into something more productive. The Saints running back is still only 24 and has appeared in just 21 games over his first three seasons because of injuries in 2024 and a torn ACL in 2025.
“I was 20 when I got drafted,” Miller said Monday, via the team website. “This is my fourth year; I just turned 24 in June - you’re kind of a kid coming out of college.
I feel like the injuries helped me become a man - just how to handle everything. It grew me up.
The injuries, to me, have been a blessing in disguise. I just know how to handle.
It’s not the end of the world. Like I told myself last year (after tearing his ACL), I was walking after doing everything.
So, you’ve just got to take the little wins and keep going.”
Miller said he’s focused on making sure he leaves something on film whenever he gets the chance.
“I’ve got to put whatever I can on tape,” Miller added. “You never want to see your teammates get hurt, but it’s always been a next man up mentality.
I’ll have probably a bigger role now since A.K. is down, so I’m going to just take that and try to run with it. However long, whatever, I’m going to step up and give it my all.”
He also acknowledged how frustrating the injury stretch has been.
“It’s definitely hard not playing, because my college career I didn’t have any injuries,” Miller said. “I guess football, nobody is going to get through the season perfect.
You’re going to have bumps and bruises. That’s easy to deal with.
I’m just trying to do whatever I can to stay out there and put together that full season this year.”
In Other News...
Saints Fine Print On Chris Olave Deal Changes The Bigger Picture
Chris Olaves new extension gave the Saints one of their most important young players a long-term financial home, but the fine print shows how carefully the team had to handle the deal. New Orleans worked out a four-year extension worth $124 million, with up to $90 million in injury guarantees, after already exercising his fifth-year option for 2026. The contract locks in a receiver the Saints clearly value, while also reflecting the reality that his recent medical history is part of every conversation around him.
The clause in the deal gives the Saints a path to void injury guarantees if Olave is no longer cleared to play because of concussions or respiratory pulmonary embolism, two issues he has dealt with before. He was cleared for training camp before agreeing to the extension, which helped move the process forward, but the language underscores how much caution still surrounds one of the team's top offensive pieces. For New Orleans, the commitment is substantial, and so is the protection built into it. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Depth Battle Just Got Tougher At The Worst Time
The Saints depth chart took another hit this week as running back Ty Chandler and tight end Moliki Matavao were both placed on injured reserve after suffering knee injuries in the preseason game against the Rams. Both players had been in the thick of the roster competition, trying to make their case in a crowded camp as New Orleans sorts out the bottom of the roster ahead of cutdown day.
Rejzohn Wright had already landed on injured reserve earlier in the week, leaving the Saints to juggle one more round of attrition at exactly the wrong time. Because players placed on injured reserve before final roster cuts are not eligible to return this season, the injuries effectively ended both Chandler and Matavaos chances of making an impact in 2026, turning a depth battle into a search for replacements. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Trade Hints At A Bigger Backfield Problem Than Fans Knew
As the preseason winds down, the Saints and 49ers found a way to turn two roster bubbles into a rare late-summer swap. New Orleans is bringing in running back Zamir White while sending linebacker Deion Jones to San Francisco, a deal that helps both clubs navigate injuries and gives each player a cleaner path to either a roster spot or a practice squad role.
For the Saints, the move is a reminder that the backfield picture may have been shakier than it looked on the surface. White arrives with a chance to compete in a room that needed more answers, and the trade suggests New Orleans was willing to act before the cutdown crunch made those decisions for them. Jones, meanwhile, was likely headed toward release as well, which is why this reads less like a splashy transaction and more like two teams quietly solving a problem at the same time. [Read more 🡒]