Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton will have season-ending ankle surgery

Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton will have season-ending ankle surgery, coach Dave Canales said Monday. Moton also has a fractured fibula in his left leg.

"He's got a fracture in his fibula, up high, below the knee," Canales said, according to ESPN. "It was really the ankle that got damaged the most with ligaments and all that. So, he'll have a procedure and that'll put him out for the rest of the year."

Moton, 32, was carted off in the third quarter of Sunday's 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay. It was only his second game of the season. He spent training camp and the first four games on the non-football injury list while being treated for blood clots.

"We're all hurt for [Moton]," Canales said. "But we know what he represents and how he battled to get back out there."

Monroe Freeling, the first-round pick who started the first four games at right tackle, goes back to that spot. He gave up three pressures in 22 pass-blocking snaps after replacing Moton, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Rasheed Walker stays at left tackle after Next Gen Stats charged him with three sacks and seven pressures allowed against the Buccaneers. One of those sacks forced a Bryce Young fumble that Tampa Bay returned for a touchdown.

Ikem Ekwonu, Carolina's usual left tackle, remains on the physically unable to perform list after knee surgery. Canales said he is making progress but gave no timeline.

The Panthers play at Green Bay on Thursday night. Left guard Damien Lewis (knee), outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (hand) and cornerback Akayleb Evans (triceps/knee) did not take part in Monday's walk-through.