CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers put veteran Taylor Moton back at the top of the right tackle spot on the depth chart the team released Tuesday ahead of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Moton returned in last weekend’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles, his first game since January, after spending roughly three months on blood thinners following a diagnosis of blood clots this summer. He handled a heavy load in that win, staying on the field for 79 snaps.
Rookie Monroe Freeling is listed as his backup. Freeling sat out against Philadelphia with a knee injury, and Stone Forsythe is listed behind him. Carolina also cut first-year tackle Albert Reese, a move made Tuesday.
With Moton healthy and free-agent addition Rasheed Walker playing well on the left side, Carolina has the option of developing Freeling as a swing tackle who can fill in on either side once he is cleared. The Panthers began the year missing both Moton and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
In the backfield, Trevor Etienne is slotted as the No. 2 running back behind Chuba Hubbard. Etienne was also added to the return unit, a job he held last season, though he sits behind veteran David Moore there for now.
Defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton returns to the front after rehabbing from neck surgery, with rookie Lee Hunter behind him.
Carolina heads into the division matchup off the Philadelphia win, while Tampa Bay brings one of the league’s top run defenses and its own questions at quarterback.
Moton has started at right tackle for Carolina for most of the past eight seasons, and the club leaned on a patchwork line during his absence. Getting him back gives the offense a steadier front as the schedule moves deeper into the fall.
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