Meet the massive lineman who will start in place of Panthers RT Taylor Moton vs. Falcons

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Yosh Nijman has some big shoes to fill. Luckily for him, the 6-foot-7, 314-pound offensive lineman has been in this position before, and he knows what to expect.

On Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium, Nijman, 28, will step into the Panthers’ starting lineup at right tackle, replacing Taylor Moton (triceps) who is sidelined after starting 104 consecutive games. It’ll be Nijman’s first start in Carolina, but he comes into the matchup with 72 games (22 starts, 1,622 career snaps) on his resume.

“It’s good to be back out there,” Nijman said Wednesday after practice. “Collectively as a team, we’re trying to find ways to win a game. As I’m coming in, there should be no drop off of play. The offensive line played pretty well over the past five weeks, and I’m just trying to come in and mimic the same thing.”

Yosh Nijman looking to live up to Taylor Moton’s standard

Nijman signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Panthers in March to be the team’s swing tackle.

The plan was for him to provide proven insurance behind Moton and left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. The Panthers are cashing in on that policy a bit earlier than expected, but Nijman says he is prepared for the challenge that comes with replacing Moton.

“Taylor is our fearless leader on the offensive line,” Nijman said. “He’s been here for a long time. He’s a professional, inside and out. . . . But me coming in for him, there’s a lot of expectations on me to play well, which I feel like I will do. And we should be good moving forward.”

Nijman played 31 snaps at right tackle during the 36-10 loss to the Chicago Bears last week. While those reps came with the game out of hand, Nijman — who missed the entirety of training camp and the preseason on the physically unable perform list — got a glimpse of what he can expect working next to veteran right guard Robert Hunt.

He also got to put some snaps on tape for the coaching staff and his teammates to evaluate.

“Obviously, he’s a bigger guy,” Ekwonu said. “He’s got great technique. I feel like he really buys into the mindset that we have — we want to dominate people. I feel like he definitely buys into that, so I’m definitely excited to watch him work.”

Veteran QB Andy Dalton will count on Nijman and new starting center Brady Christensen to provide support in pass protection. The line has given up six sacks over the past three games, and Christensen and Nijman will be tasked with preventing the Falcons pass rushers from getting to Dalton.

Said Dalton: “We don’t expect anything to change with our group upfront.”

Two open roster spots: For whom?

The Panthers are monitoring the respective return timelines for cornerback Dane Jackson (hamstring) and tight end Ian Thomas (calf) as they await activation from the injured reserve list.

Jackson and Thomas had their respective 21-day practice windows opened last week. However, neither were cleared to play last Sunday against the Bears.

On Tuesday, the Panthers opened up a pair of spots on the 53-man roster, presumably for the eventual returns of Thomas and Jackson. On Wednesday, head coach Dave Canales acknowledged the next few days will be vital in determining whether Jackson and/or Thomas will be ready to go against the Falcons.

“Absolutely could be the week, especially with the availability of the roster, for these guys, who are just chomping at the bit to get back out there,” Canales said. “Both guys really have taken that long process of getting themselves back to the readiness to return to football. And, so, now this being their second week, this is a huge window for them these next couple of days, to stack it. To make sure they look right, they look confident — they’re playing fast, there’s no hesitation in their play, and their certainly heading into that direction.”

Jackson and Thomas were listed among the full participants in the first workout of the week.

Injury update: Latest on Xavier Legette, Diontae Johnson

The Panthers practiced without Moton, pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder), center Andrew Raym (concussion protocol) and tight end Tommy Tremble (concussion protocol) to start the week.

Linebacker Josey Jewell (hamstring), who missed all of last week due to injury, was also absent during Wednesday’s workout. Center Austin Corbett (biceps) has yet to be placed on injured reserve, but he was missing from practice — as expected — while he awaits season-ending arm surgery.

Wide receivers Xavier Legette (shoulder) and Diontae Johnson (ankle) were both able to practice, though Johnson was listed as a limited participant.

Below is the full practice participation report for the Panthers on Wednesday:

▪ Did not participate: OLB Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder), C Austin Corbett (biceps), RT Taylor Moton (triceps), TE Tommy Tremble (concussion protocol), LB Josey Jewell (hamstring), C Andrew Raym (concussion protocol)

▪ Limited: WR Diontae Johnson (ankle), DE A’Shawn Robinson (ankle)

▪ Full: WR Xavier Legette (shoulder), CB Dane Jackson (hamstring), TE Ian Thomas (calf), OT Ikem Ekwonu (elbow)

Quick hits

▪ Returning guard/center Cade Mays, who was signed off the New York Giants’ practice squad on Tuesday, was back in his old No. 64 jersey on Wednesday. Newly signed practice-squad pass rusher, Shaq Lawson, was given No. 46, previously worn by Eku Leota.

▪ Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace posted 15 tackles in his first NFL start against Chicago. According to the Panthers, that total was the largest number of tackles by a Panthers player since Luke Kuechly (17) in Week 15 of the 2019 season. Wallace and Kuechly are the only Panthers defenders to record 15 or more tackles in a single game as a rookie.

▪ Canales named veteran lineman Brandon Walton — currently on the practice squad — as a potential replacement for Nijman at swing tackle on the game-day roster. Walton played under Canales and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert in Tampa Bay last season.

▪ According to the team, from Weeks 3-5, running back Chuba Hubbard was second in the league in rushing yards (315), third in yards per carry (6.06), third in rushing first downs (16), tied for fourth in big rushing plays (7), and fifth in carries (52). According to Zebra Technologies, Hubbard reached a top speed of 20.68 mph on his 38-yard touchdown run against the Bears. That speed was the highest of his career as a ball-carrier, according to the tracking service.

▪ Follow Observer reporters Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) and Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05), and columnist Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler), on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the Panthers’ latest news and highlights.