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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu questionable for season-opener vs Jaguars after emergency appendectomy surgery

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Panthers' Ikem Ekwonu questionable for season-opener vs Jaguars after emergency appendectomy surgery

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Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu may not be ready for the team’s season-opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he underwent emergency appendectomy surgery last week.

Ekwonu, 24, went to the team facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain. He was checked by the team’s medical staff, who recommended emergency surgery.

Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters last Wednesday that Ekwonu would be “day-to-day, all the way up until the game.”

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Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) takes the field during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

Ekwonu did not participate in the team’s practice on Monday, per the team’s website. 

The Panthers selected Ekwonu with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the North Carolina State product has been durable through his first three seasons in the NFL. Ekwonu started all 17 games in each of his first two seasons and started 15 of 17 games last season.

Players’ recovery times for appendix procedures vary. Then-Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed only eight days in 2022, while former Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari missed three games that same season after the procedure.

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Ikem Ekwonu looks on

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) looks on during the second half at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 13, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

If Ekwonu is unable to start against the Jaguars, the team will likely turn to backup Yosh Nijman.

Nijman is set to enter his sixth season in the NFL. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers and the last two with the Panthers.

Ikem Ekwonu looks on

Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu (79) during minicamp at Bank of America Stadium on June 11, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)

The 29-year-old started 25 of the 83 games he appeared in. Last season, he started three games at right tackle when Taylor Moton was injured.

The Panthers play the Jaguars on the road on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. ET.

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Josh Allen needles Bills fans for leaving early during thrilling win: 'Have some faith next time'

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Josh Allen needles Bills fans for leaving early during thrilling win: 'Have some faith next time'

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Some Buffalo Bills fans left Orchard Park, New York, early on Sunday night as the team went down 40-25 with under 12 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens.

Little did they know, Josh Allen and the Bills’ defense were going to orchestrate an improbable comeback. Allen was responsible for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and helped get the Bills up the field for Matt Prater’s 32-yard game-winning field goal. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver also caused Derrick Henry to fumble – the running back’s only blemish during the night.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates the team’s win over the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

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Allen implored Bills fans to have some more confidence in the team going forward.

“Our team didn’t quit,” he said after the game. “I think there’s people who left the stadium. That’s OK. We’ll be fine. But have some faith next time.”

The Bills had to have a few things fall their way to even sniff the lead at the end of the game. It really started with Buffalo’s final drive of the first half.

Allen and the Bills had the ball with 31 seconds left in the second quarter. He completed a 26-yard pass to Khalil Shakir and clocked the ball with eight seconds left. Instead of trying for a Hail Mary throw into the end zone, Allen found Dalton Kincaid streaking across the field and made a pinpoint throw to the tight end with one second left.

Prater hit a field goal from 43 yards out to keep Buffalo to within one score of the Ravens.

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Josh Allen throws the ball

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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With 4:05 left in the fourth quarter, Allen dropped back to pass in the red zone on 4th-and-2, he fired a pass to the end zone. It was tipped by a Bills player and somehow Keon Coleman made the catch in the end zone. Buffalo was within eight points of the lead.

The Henry fumble led to another Bills touchdown. The Ravens got the ball back and could have put the game away with a first down. But they only gained seven yards on three plays. Coach John Harbaugh elected to punt the ball away and let his defense take over.

Allen led Buffalo on a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with Prater’s game-winner.

“Josh, he’s always been like that though. He wants the ball in key moments of the game,” coach Sean McDermott said. “That’s what the great ones, that’s their mindset. That’s what they want, that’s what they do. And he’s never out of it in his mind.”

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Matt Prater and Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates with kicker Matt Prater (15) after his game-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens in an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Allen was 33-of-46 with 394 passing yards in the win. He had two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Prep talk: Redondo Union girls volleyball rising to the occasion

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Prep talk: Redondo Union girls volleyball rising to the occasion

You can’t say Redondo Union girls’ volleyball coach Tommy Chaffins is playing a cupcake schedule. On the contrary, he’s having his team face one top opponent after another in nonleague matches.

Last week, the Sea Hawks (12-1) handed Marymount its first defeat, then beat defending Southern Section champion Mater Dei. Next up is a Tuesday showdown at home against Sierra Canyon, considered this year’s Division 1 favorite once the Trailblazers get their sit-out period transfer players eligible on Saturday.

Abby Zimmerman, a four-year starter for Redondo Union, continues to provide leadership while delivering top performances in big matches. She had 26 kills in the win over Marymount.

In the City Section, Venice won the Gold Division title in its own tournament by handing league rival Palisades its first defeat in the championship match.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Prep talk: All-American Kami Miner visits her alma mater, Redondo Union

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Prep talk: All-American Kami Miner visits her alma mater, Redondo Union

Kami Miner, an All-American volleyball player at Redondo Union and Stanford, dropped by her alma mater’s match last week before heading to Italy to play pro volleyball.

Coach Tommy Chaffins knew what to do.

“Hey, you want to come into the team room?” he asked.

“‘I’d love to,” Miner said.

Redondo Union players got a good pep talk before a win over Long Beach Poly.

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“She loves Redondo,” Chaffins said.

Redondo Union is 13-1 heading into a competitive home match on Tuesday against Marymount, followed by a showdown against Mater Dei on the road.

Abby Zimmerman, a four-year starter and captain headed to Cal, has been leading the Sea Hawks.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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