CHARLOTTE — The Panthers invested in offensive line depth for a reason, and they may or may not need it in Week 1.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Wednesday that left tackle Ikem Ekwonu had an emergency appendectomy on Sunday, and his availability for the regular season opener in Jacksonville on Sept. 7 is in question.

Ekwonu came to the team facility complaining of stomach pain over the weekend, and after getting checked by the team's medical staff, a quick surgery was recommended.

There's a degree of hope he could return for the Jaguars game.

Canales called him "day-to-day, all the way up until the game."

Players coming back from appendix procedures have varying recovery times.

Then-Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was back on the field eight days after a pro

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