Carolina Panthers starting right tackle Taylor Moton was diagnosed in late June with a blood clot in his lung, the team announced Tuesday. Moton, 31, will be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list and will miss the start of the NFL season.
Moton began taking blood thinners following his diagnosis and is responding well to treatment, according to the team. He will continue to be monitored by the Panthers' medical staff and is expected to return at some point during the regular season.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn will also be placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. Horn is sidelined after cutting his foot while running and requiring stitches, with the team anticipating his return early in training camp.
Moton has been a significant presence on the Panthers' offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, appearing in 145 games with 128 starts. His absence creates a void that the team has sought to fill through various personnel moves, including signing left tackle Rasheed Walker in free agency. The team also drafted Monroe Freeling in the first round to bolster the offensive line. These moves come after left tackle Ickey Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee during a playoff game.
In other team news, former Panthers quarterback Will Grier announced his retirement from the NFL earlier in July at the age of 31. Grier, a third-round draft pick in 2019, played in two NFL games during his career and had stints with multiple other teams as a backup.