{
  "id": 17827910,
  "title": "3 changes the Panthers must consider for their struggling offensive line",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/3-changes-the-panthers-must-consider-for-their-struggling-offensive",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T17:15:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/3-changes-panthers-must-consider-171516848.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales acknowledged the need for changes in their struggling offensive line following their 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The unit has been facing issues due to injuries, absences, and poor performance, hindering the team's offensive productivity. Three potential changes to improve the offensive line are proposed:\n\n1. Promote Sam Hecht to center: The Panthers need a change in leadership on the field, starting with center. Veteran Luke Fortner has been a disappointment, currently grading at 53.3 overall, ranking 30th out of 35 centers. Rookie Hecht, a 2026 fifth-round pick, might not be a significant improvement but could not be much worse. Hecht allowed only seven pressures in his final season at Kansas State and zero sacks over 850 pass-blocking opportunities at Kansas State.\n\n2. Start Monroe Freeling at left tackle: The Panthers' left tackle, Rasheed Walker, has been the worst starter this season, consistently getting beat in pass protection and committing penalties. Walker's PFF grade is worse than Fortner's, ranking 61st out of 71 qualifying offensive tackles. Freeling, who spent most of his college career at Georgia on the blindside, should replace Walker at left tackle for the remainder of the season or until Ikem Ekwonu returns.\n\n3. Trade for a new right tackle: The Panthers need a replacement for the current right tackle, Stone Forsythe, who is a below-average backup and should not start. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Panthers could potentially acquire tackles like Houston's Braden Smith or Miami's Austin Jackson to address this need.",
  "summary": "How can the Panthers tighten up their underwhelming offensive line? We came up with three changes that they may want to consider.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}