Panthers LT Ickey Ekwonu to miss significant time with ruptured patella tendon in right knee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said an MRI revealed that starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu will miss a significant amount of time with a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee.

The normal recovery time for such an injury fluctuates, but is generally considered to be in the six-to-12-month range.

“It is significant and will require surgery,” Canales said Sunday.

Ekwonu was injured in the first quarter of Carolina’s 34-31 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday and did not return.

It’s a tough situation for the Panthers and Ekwonu, who was entering the final year of his contract after the Panthers picked up his fifth-year option worth $17.56 million. He is guaranteed that money regardless of whether he plays in 2026.

Carolina had been discussing a contract extension with Ekwonu, the No. 6 pick in the 2022 draft, but those talks could be put on hold.

The length of his rehab puts Ekwonu's availability in jeopardy for the start of next season, and Canales said it could impact the team's plans in the NFL draft.

Canales said the injury was not related to the knee injury that caused Ekwonu to miss the team's Week 16 game against Tampa Bay.

“He battled for us and worked through some things during the season,” Canales said. “He's a guy that I love and really trust out there. We will be with him the whole way and wish him a speedy recovery.”

Yosh Nijman replaced Ekwonu on Sunday. Nijman is one of five Panthers offensive linemen who are set to become unrestricted free agents.

Canales also said that defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has his “full support” and he is “100% confident” that he will back next season in the same role. Evero has come under some criticism after his defense allowed the Rams to drive 71 yards in seven plays in the final 2 1/2 minutes on Saturday for the winning touchdown.

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Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) goes down with an injury during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

NEW YORK (AP) — Berkly Catton scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, and the Seattle Kraken rallied from two goals down and beat the New York Rangers 4-2 on Monday night.

Eeli Tolvanen, Jordan Eberle and Jared McCann also scored for the Kraken, and Philipp Grubauer had 19 saves. Seattle won for the ninth time in 12 games (9-1-2).

Mika Zibanejad and Sam Carrick scored for the Rangers, and Jonathan Quick finished with 25 saves. New York lost for the seventh time in eight games (1-5-2) and fell to 5-12-4 at Madison Square Garden this season.

Catton gave the Kraken a 3-2 lead with 7:58 left in the third, knocking in a loose puck after his initial attempt was stopped by the right pad of a sprawled Quick down on the ice.

McCann added an empty-netter with 10 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, the Kraken tied it with two goals in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the second period.

Frederick Gaudreau sent a backhand pass from the left side near the boards to Tolvanen in front, and settled the puck and beat Quick at the 1-minute mark.

Eberle tied it at 4:27 as he fired it past Quick from the high slot for his 16th of the season

Zibanejad scored for the Rangers 3:08 into the game. Grubauer deflected Zibanejad's initial shot wide and off the end board, and Zibanejad followed it and sent the rebound from behind the goal line back off the goalie and in for his 18th.

Carrick made it 2-0 less than 2 1/2 minutes later. After a turnover by the Kraken in the neutral zone back across the blue line, Carrick got the puck, skated into the left circle and beat Grubauer low on the blocker side.

Kraken: At New Jersey on Wednesday night in the third of a five-game trip.

Rangers: Host Ottawa on Wednesday night to finish a two-game homestand.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Seattle Kraken's Cale Fleury (8) celebrates after his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with teammate Shane Wright (51) during the first period of an NHL game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)