Statistical reasons to Scratch Ickey from returning as a LT--Even in 2027

[PanthersNCSU]

On 2/2/2026 at 8:04 AM, SOJA said:

I worry about him as a guy that already struggled with speed rushers. I think his future is at LG

I hope I am so wrong and he comes back better than ever at LT

Where I'm at too. If he comes back at LT, great. If not...he's one of your Guard replacements for Lewis/Hunt and gives the OL flexibility if needed to play OT. 

Best case, he comes back like nothing happened. More realistic case, re-sign him on a cheaper deal to be the new do-it-all OL and pray he holds up. 

[SOJA]

On 2/4/2026 at 8:57 AM, PanthersNCSU said:

Where I'm at too. If he comes back at LT, great. If not...he's one of your Guard replacements for Lewis/Hunt and gives the OL flexibility if needed to play OT. 

Best case, he comes back like nothing happened. More realistic case, re-sign him on a cheaper deal to be the new do-it-all OL and pray he holds up. 

I see NCSU in your username. feel so bad for him. local kid, rooted for him so hard when we drafted him. finally came into his own and then just this devastating injury. sucks man 

[hepcat]

25 minutes ago, SOJA said:

I see NCSU in your username. feel so bad for him. local kid, rooted for him so hard when we drafted him. finally came into his own and then just this devastating injury. sucks man 

Icky was really starting to round into form at times this season. He was one of the primary reasons the Panthers beat the Packers. Parsons couldn’t do anything against Icky. Really sucks he had this happen to him in the playoffs and now he’s staring down his career potentially being over. He will get his chance to come back and I hope he does, but if I’m the panthers I’m prepping as if he is never stepping on the field again

[SOJA]

On 2/6/2026 at 9:01 AM, hepcat said:

Icky was really starting to round into form at times this season. He was one of the primary reasons the Panthers beat the Packers. Parsons couldn’t do anything against Icky. Really sucks he had this happen to him in the playoffs and now he’s staring down his career potentially being over. He will get his chance to come back and I hope he does, but if I’m the panthers I’m prepping as if he is never stepping on the field again

yep totally agree, huge loss and feel so bad for him personally 

[strato]

On 2/2/2026 at 12:34 PM, raleigh-panther said:

Sometimes, a franchise has to cut bait and move on

icky is serviceable but he has flaws  

this isn’t a guard or a linebacker, or a safety

it is a blind side protector of a very tiny qb

Too. Moton is also getting older and he missed some games or parts of games this year   As that knee wears down, we know the end of that story 

and Christiansen is coming off an Achilles injury 

All of this means, we have one clear swing tackle in Yosh, and doubt he is an every down player and if he goes down, then what ?  

if I’m the Panthers, I go best available tackle in rd 1 or 2 and pick up free agents for backups 

keep the strengths strong    It isn’t like the team has Josh Allen behind that line either 

 

I see it as we need to get two OTs of starter quality. But not necessarily this year. We can spread it out over ‘26 and ‘27. 
I don’t want to have to do that, but I don’t see a way around it.