Panthers make another offensive line adjustment going into Week 12 matchup

Carolina will be starting Cade Mays in the middle of the offensive line against Kansas City's defensive front.

Tim Weaver | Nov 21, 2024

Guard Cade Mays (68) of the Carolina Panthers wams up prior to NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, October 8, 2023. / (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Carolina Panthers

It's been a highly-impressive 2024 NFL season for the Carolina Panthers' offensive line, which is by far the team's best and most-consistent unit on the roster. It might also be the deepest group on the team. Despite missing multiple starters for different stretches the unit has continued to perform well, both blocking for the run and in pss protection.

This week there will be another change to the lineup. Starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu had been out for the last two games with an ankle injury. However, he will be returning this week. Brady Christensen had been playing on the blindside in his place. Head coach Dave Canales told reporters yesterday that Chistensen will not be sliding over to start at center again, as he did a few games earlier this season when Austin Corbett was out. Instead, he'll give the ball to Cade Mays.

Mays will be facing quite a challenge on Sunday, as he'll be lining up across from Chris Jones, who's arguably the best interior pass rusher in the game now that Aaron Donald is retired. However, Mays has a lot of experience going up against A-list interior disrupters, as Canales mentioned to reporters yesterday.

"He did a great job last week just pairing with Rob Hunt and with Damian, going against Dexter Lawrence, who he saw in practice, so that was a little bit of an advantage for him... All camp against Derrick Brown and then you go against Dexter Lawrence and the likes, so I think some experience playing against those types of guys.

In his two starts this season Mays has only allowed two pressures and no sacks.