The Carolina Panthers may have drafted Ikem Ekwonu with the hopes of him becoming the franchise left tackle they’ve so desperately lacked. But that doesn’t mean they’re just going to give him the gig.
Head coach Matt Rhule said as much down in Spartanburg, S.C. as the team continues to settle into training camp. When asked if they’ve been easing in the 2022 sixth overall pick, seeing as though they have yet to run him on the blindside with the first team, Rhule told reporters that Ekwonu will have to earn that honor first.
“I don’t think we’re bringing along Ickey slowly,” he stated. “I think—as a rookie—you get opportunities, but you have to earn what you get. You have to fight and battle. Ickey’s gonna have to battle if he wants to be a starter, he certainly wants to be a starter. Ickey’s gonna have to battle. Brady’s [Christensen] gonna have to battle. And we’re just taking a very long approach here. We don’t need to make these decisions this week.”
Thus far, their decisions have had Christensen man the left tackle spot off the top. Last year’s third-round selection started in four games at the position during the 2021 campaign and gave a rather solid account of himself there.
But, we’re not even through the second week of camp yet. So expect Ekwonu, who’s done all the right things to this point, to keep chomping away at Christensen’s feet.
