Robert Hunt

Panthers To Re-Evaluate OL Robert Hunt, Moving Austin Corbett Back To Guard

November 8th, 2025 at 11:36am CST by Nikhil Mehta

After a 1-3 start, the Panthers have won four of their five games despite a series of injuries to their top two quarterbacks and several offensive linemen.

Starting QB Bryce Young missed Week 8 with a high ankle sprain. In that game, backup Andy Dalton broke the thumb on his throwing hand. Young returned for Carolina’s next game.

Their offensive line has dealt with even more injuries. Week 1 starters Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett, along with versatile depth Chandler Zavala and Brady Christensen, have spent time on injured reserve; Hunt and Christensen are still there. The Panthers’ other three Week 1 starters – Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, and Taylor Moton – have all missed at least one game, and backup center Cade Mays was sidelined by knee and ankle injuries in Week 9. Nine different offensive linemen have taken at least 100 snaps this year.

That has caused a number of shuffles along Carolina’s offensive line, including a few switches between left guard and center by Corbett. With Mays back in the lineup, Corbett will now move to right guard, per The Athletic’s Joe Person, which he has not played in the last two seasons. However, he spent the previous four years starting at the position, so it should be a relatively easy change.

Hunt, meanwhile, is “right on track” in his recovery from his biceps tear, according to Panthers head coach Dave Canales (via Person). The team is still holding out hope that he could return for the last four games of the season, but they are planning to re-evaluate the veteran guard’s status this week.

Panthers Place OL Brady Christensen On IR, Sign QB Mike White To Active Roster

November 2nd, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Nikhil Mehta

NOVEMBER 2: The thumb on Dalton’s throwing hand is actually broken, per Person (subscription required). Dalton broke the thumb during the second series of the Buffalo contest, though he did not immediately tell the coaching staff about the injury.

Young returned to practice as a full participant on Wednesday, and he has no injury designation for Week 9. He will therefore return to his QB1 post.

OCTOBER 30: Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen underwent surgery for a torn Achilles on Wednesday and was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per team reporter Darin Gantt.

Christensen went down in the Panthers’ Week 8 loss to the Bills and will miss the rest of the season. He had started the last four games at right guard after Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala both landed on injured reserve. Five-year veteran Jake Curhan finished the game at right guard.

Christensen’s injury was one of several to the Panthers’ offensive line on Sunday. Center Cade Mays injured his ankle and right tackle Taylor Moton injured his knee; they were replaced by Austin Corbett and Yosh Nijman, respectively. Head coach Dave Canales said this week (via Gant and his colleague Kassidy Hill) that Mays was not expected to play in Week 9, but Moton might. That would keep Corbett at center and potentially insert Nijman into the starting lineup.

At right guard, the Panthers could stick with Curhan, but Zavala is expected to be activated from IR ahead of Sunday’s game against the Packers, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. That will likely position him to start, potentially for the rest of the season if Hunt does not come back.

With the open spot on their roster, the Panthers promoted veteran quarterback Mike White from the practice squad. That may not be a good sign for Andy Dalton‘s availability this week. He is dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand and did not practice on Wednesday. Bryce Young is trending towards a return after missing Week 8 with a high ankle sprain; if Dalton can’t go, White would be Young’s backup on Sunday.

The Panthers also filled the open practice squad spot created by White’s promotion by re-signing defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy.

Panthers TE Ja’Tavion Sanders Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks

September 23rd, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday’s victory over the Falcons, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.

The 2024 fourth-round pick will miss multiple weeks as a result with veteran Tommy Tremble likely stepping back into a starting role.

After largely playing behind Tremble as a rookie, Sanders started Carolina’s first three games this season and outsnapped his veteran teammate 129 to 97. He ranks second on the team in receptions (11) and receiving yards (92), both top-20 marks among tight ends through three games, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Tremble caught all six of his targets for 38 yards to open the year and will likely see an uptick in snap count and receiving opportunities. Fifth-round rookie Mitchell Evans stands to benefit even more, as he only played 35 snaps in the first three weeks but will be elevated to a TE2 role during Sanders’ absence.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales also confirmed that right guard Robert Hunt underwent biceps surgery. His earliest return would be at the end of the season, according to ESPN’s David Newton, while center Austin Corbett avoided surgery but will be out for at least six to eight weeks. Both linemen are on injured reserve.

Carolina has since switched to Chandler Zavala at RG and Cade Mays at C while also poaching Nick Samac off the Ravens’ practice squad to back up both spots. The Panthers offense has struggled behind their injured O-line thus far and will be hoping Corbett can recover on the shorter end of his timeline

Panthers To Place G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett On IR

September 18th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

September 18: Hunt underwent successful surgery in California this week, per Joe Person of The Athletic, but the team has not provided any updates regarding his return timetable.

A torn biceps could be season-ending, but Bills linebacker Matt Milano suffered a similar injury in training camp last year and was back on the field at the end of November. However, the specific nature of Hunt’s injury and the different physical requirements for his position will be major factors in his recovery timeline.

September 15: As expected, the Panthers will be shorthanded up front for a lengthy period. Guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett are both headed to injured reserve, head coach Dave Canales confirmed on Monday.

Hunt suffered a torn left biceps during yesterday’s game. Surgery will be required as a result, meaning he could very well be lost for the season. The shift to IR ensures a four-game absence at a minimum, but for both Hunt and Corbett a much longer absence is in store.

Corbett suffered an MCL injury during Carolina’s Week 2 contest. Canales noted the extent of the ailment was initially unclear (with a sprain being a possibility), but he later specified (via ESPN’s David Newton) this is a case of a Grade C injury. That represents a complete tear, meaning surgery will also be required for Corbett. Canales has left the door open for a late-season return in both cases, but it would come as a surprise if either were to be available again in 2025.

The Panthers made continuity a priority along the O-line this offseason. Corbett and fellow center Cade Mays were retained, while longtime right tackle Taylor Moton inked a two-year extension shortly before the start of the campaign. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is still in the fold, as is left guard Damien Lewis. With a number of depth options returning as well, Carolina’s top nine contributors up front in terms of snaps from 2024 are in the fold.

Given today’s injury news, that depth and familiarity will be called upon early. Mays is set to take over from Corbett at center after falling short in this year’s training camp competition for the gig. Canales said Chandler Zavala, meanwhile, will receive the first opportunity to take on the right guard position. The 2023 fourth-rounder made seven total starts across his first two seasons with Carolina, and that figure is now set to increase.

Hunt remains under contract through 2028, so the Pro Bowler’s future with the team is not in questions. Corbett, on the other hand, missed considerable time in each of the past two years. Yet another significant injury will hurt the pending free agent’s chances of being retained this spring along with his market value for any outside teams which show interest.

Panthers’ Robert Hunt, Austin Corbett Facing Lengthy Absences?

September 15th, 2025 at 10:48am CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ late comeback attempt came up short on Sunday, dropping them to 0-2. Attempts at turning the season around will likely include replacements being counted on along the offensive line.

Both right guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett suffered injuries yesterday. Hunt is dealing with a biceps injury which occurred in the fourth quarter. Corbett, meanwhile, is facing the prospect of missed time due to a knee ailment.

In each case, an MRI is pending. As Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required), though, neither Hunt nor Corbett are optimistic about their respective outlooks. Biceps tears carry lengthy recovery timelines when surgery is required, while Corbett was “distraught” in the locker room after the game when contemplating the fallout of his latest injury (h/t ESPN’s David Newton).

Hunt was one of the Panthers’ two big-ticket guard investments during free agency in 2024 (Damien Lewis being the other). The former Dolphins second-rounder played 16 games during his debut Carolina season, earning a Pro Bowl nod along the way. Expectations were high for a strong follow-up, but it appears a lengthy absence will instead be in store. Hunt is under contract through 2028.

Corbett, by contrast, is a pending free agent. The eighth-year veteran avoided major injuries during his time with the Browns and Rams early in his career. After logging a full campaign with the Panthers in 2022, however, the 30-year-old has been struck by a series of injury woes. Corbett ended the ’22 season with an ACL tear and was limited to just four games the following campaign (during which he suffered an MCL tear). In 2024, a biceps tear ended his season in Week 5.

This offseason, Corbett was retained on a one-year pact while the Panthers also kept Cade Mays in the fold. The two engaged in a training camp competition for the starting center gig, and Corbett won out. The 69-game starter now appears to be facing another lengthy tenure on the shelf, something which would hinder his market value next spring and presumably move Mays into a first-team role.

Carolina’s offensive line welcomed back left tackle Ikem Ekwonu yesterday. The unit could be notably shorthanded along the interior moving forward, though. It will be interesting to see what further testing reveals for both Hunt and Corbett as the Panthers look to build off the momentum from their second half showing yesterday.

Panthers G Robert Hunt Felt Dolphins’ Extension Offer Was “Disrespectful”

December 8th, 2024 at 12:30pm CST by Rory Parks

In order to convince Robert Hunt to come to Charlotte this offseason, the Panthers made him just the fourth guard in league history to enjoy a $20MM/year contract, authorizing a five-year, $100MM accord that features $44MM in fully-guaranteed money. While Hunt’s original team, the Dolphins, were interested in retaining their 2020 second-rounder, it sounds as if Miami stopped well short of where Carolina was willing to go.

Although Hunt did not talk details, he acknowledged that the ‘Fins made an extension offer near the tail end of the 2023 campaign.

“Late in December they made an offer,” Hunt said (via Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I just thought it was a little disrespectful. It screamed that we’re not gonna pay.”

Hunt, 28, played in just 11 games last year due to injury, but he established himself as one of the game’s better guards after the Dolphins moved him from right tackle to the interior of the line in 2021. Pro Football Focus considered him a top-12 guard in both 2022 and 2023, and with the Panthers anxious to give second-year quarterback Bryce Young adequate protection and to improve their rushing attack, they were prepared to pay top dollar for Hunt’s services.

At 3-9, Carolina is suffering through another difficult season, but as Person notes, the club is pleased with the return on its Hunt investment. His pass-blocking metrics have regressed to a degree, so he is presently ranked as PFF’s 21st-best guard out of 73 qualified players. Those struggles in the passing game were on display during the Panthers’ recent loss to the Chiefs and defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is one of the game’s most fearsome interior rushers.

Of course, Jones gets the best of many opposing blockers, and the Panthers’ staff is not concerned about Hunt moving forward.

Said run game coordinator Harold Goodwin, “Rob had some good battles with [Jones]. Rob won some. [Jones] won some. So it was good ebb and flow to the competition. We’ve just gotta get Rob’s hands and feet more coordinated. I think … Rob was pressing because he knew who it was.”

Even with the downturn in the pass-blocking component of his game, it appears that Hunt’s efforts this season — to say nothing of his contract status — have entrenched him as one of the foundational pieces of the roster for the foreseeable future.

Giants Outbid Jets For G Jon Runyan Jr.; Cards, Jets Pursued OL Jermaine Eluemunor

July 17th, 2024 at 10:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Both the Giants and Jets added multiple starters along their offensive lines in free agency. The NFC’s New York franchise was willing to spend more for one of its top targets.

A Jets offer for Jon Runyan Jr. influenced the Giants, as HBO’s Hard Knocks: Offseason documents, with familiarity nearly pushing the ex-Packers guard to reunite with Aaron Rodgers and OC Nathaniel Hackett. Because of the familiarity the three-year Packers starter carried with the Green Bay power brokers now in New York, Giants senior VP of football operations Kevin Abrams informed Joe Schoen the NFC East team would need to top where the Jets had gone for Runyan.

The Jets ended up adding three O-line starters on the market, but before coming to terms with guard John Simpson, the team offered Runyan $9MM per year and $17MM guaranteed at signing in the early hours of the legal tampering period. The Giants, who saw injuries affect their guard setup last season, outbid the Jets by giving the second-generation NFL blocker a three-year, $30MM deal. Big Blue matched the $17MM guarantee, and the Jets soon pivoted to Simpson at two years and $12MM.

The Runyan pact took the Giants out of the market for Robert Hunt, who received an offer from the team. While the team had pegged the four-year Dolphins starter as a player worth between $13MM and $15MM per year, Hunt’s market eventually reached $20MM on average (via the Panthers). That contract did not come to pass until hours after the Giants had added their two new O-line pieces. The team gave Jermaine Eluemunor a two-year, $14MM deal shortly after adding Runyan.

Eluemunor also drew interest from the Jets, but director of football ops Ed Triggs informed Schoen the Cardinals were in on the recent Raiders right tackle. Eluemunor sought nothing more than a two-year commitment, signaling the 29-year-old blocker is eyeing another potential free agency go-round in the mid-2020s. Considering Eluemunor’s run of low-cost Raiders one-year deals, attempting to use his 2024 agreement as a springboard to another payday makes sense. Eluemunor, whose two-year Patriots tenure overlapped with Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort‘s New England stay, ended up with the Giants after they upped their offer from $6MM to $7MM per year.

No 2025 guarantees are present in Eluemunor’s contract, a component the Giants’ offer indicated after Schoen was told the veteran did not want a three-year deal. Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti said Eluemunor could be a Giants starter at right tackle or left guard. Going into camp, the team is taking the latter route — in hopes former No. 7 overall pick Evan Neal finally showcases quality form at RT. As a result of the Giants’ FA process, they plan to roll out an Andrew Thomas-Eluemunor-John Michael Schmitz-Runyan-Neal starting five.

The Jets have Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker in place at guard, though it will be interesting to see if the team attempts to move first-round tackle Olu Fashanu into a guard role in a “best five” scenario. FA pickup Tyron Smith and trade reacquisition Morgan Moses are in place at tackle.

Following Eluemunor’s decision, the Cardinals did not end up spending much at guard in free agency, adding Evan Brown on a one-year deal worth $2.35MM. Brown is the favorite to start at left guard opposite ex-Giant Will Hernandez. Arizona did, however, allocate considerable funds to bolster its right tackle spot by agreeing to terms with Jonah Williams two days after Eluemunor chose the Giants.

Panthers To Add G Robert Hunt

March 11th, 2024 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored to be chasing guards, the Panthers are paying up to help Bryce Young protection in the quarterback’s second season. They are preparing a $100MM payment to fill this need.

Robert Hunt is headed to Charlotte, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reveals what it will cost. Hunt is signing a five-year, $100MM deal. A three-year Dolphins guard starter, Hunt becomes only the fourth guard in NFL history to sign a deal for at least $20MM per year. Part of Hunt’s guarantee will come via a $26.5MM signing bonus, Garafolo adds.

The Dolphins’ free agents have led the way on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. Miami was preparing to lose both Hunt and Christian Wilkins; both players have received deals near the top of their positions’ markets. Hunt will slide in as an upgrade at guard for a Panthers team that saw both its guard starters — Brady Christensen, Austin Corbett — suffer season-ending injuries last year.

These injuries were among the issues that plagued Young during his rough rookie season. The Panthers will give their diminutive quarterback a better chance by helping to protect him from inside pressure, which was a common problem during the No. 1 pick’s debut. Hunt is going into his age-28 season, making it rather important he was able to cash in this year — after the cap spike created a friendlier market.

A 2020 second-round pick, Hunt slid from right tackle to right guard in 2021 and became the Dolphins’ most consistent O-lineman. As Miami moved more players around and saw other blockers suffer injuries in this span, Hunt chugged along. That said, Hunt did aggravate a hamstring injury and miss seven games last season. But the Louisiana alum started all 34 games from 2021-22. Hunt goes 330 pounds, giving the Panthers an imposing presence as they reconstruct their line in Dave Canales‘ first year.

Pro Football Focus slotted Hunt as a top-12 guard in each of the past two seasons; he played a big role in helping Mike McDaniel‘s offense ignite. The Panthers will pay up to see if he can help Young begin a real development effort, after last season saw those hopes encounter early turbulence.

Dolphins Re-Sign G Robert Jones

March 10th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins have lots of contracts to address on the offensive line this offseason, and they’ll start with re-signing offensive guard Robert Jones, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The third-year undrafted lineman out of Middle Tennessee State is set to return to Miami on a new one-year deal.

Jones has proven to be a valuable backup for the Dolphins over the past three seasons. Though never designated as a full-time starter on the offensive line, Jones has made 13 starts in 32 game appearances. Most recently, he filled in for an injured Isaiah Wynn this year, which graded out as an improvement, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). With starting guard Robert Hunt expected to earn a massive payday elsewhere, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Jones should return as a strong option to step into a full-time starting role in 2024.

While Miami still needs to deal with the expiring contracts of Hunt and center Connor Williams, they did receive some good news concerning starting left tackle Terron Armstead. Though Armstead was undecided on whether or not to hang up his cleats, a return to the field in 2024 has been trending. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, things continue to move in the right direction for Armstead to play next season. Armstead and Miami are even close to finalizing a new adjusted contract to reduce his cap hit in 2024. It’s not done yet but should reportedly be done soon.

With Jones and Armstead expected back and right tackle Austin Jackson under contract through the 2026 season, the Dolphins are set with three possible starters heading into next year. Decisions on Hunt and Williams should come soon, allowing the team to make plans on how to move forward with or without them.

Dolphins Unlikely To Retain G Robert Hunt, DT Christian Wilkins; CB Xavien Howard Will Not Return

March 8th, 2024 at 2:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

As of Friday afternoon, the Dolphins are still $20MM over the cap. They will not pick up any savings from the Xavien Howard post-June 1 cut for months, meaning more moves will need to transpire for the team to move under the 2024 salary ceiling.

This will affect how the Dolphins proceed with their top two free agents. Barring an 11th-hour change, both Robert Hunt and Christian Wilkins look to be headed out the door. Each will be a candidate to land a near-top-market deal at their respective positions, and it does not look like the Dolphins will be prepared to match such an offer.

Hunt’s return looks unlikely due to the salary he will command, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Kevin Dotson‘s $16MM-per-year Rams deal (feat. $32MM guaranteed) may set the floor for Hunt, who has been a more consistent player. The Dolphins have maintained a good relationship with Hunt’s camp during this process, Jackson adds, but the market will probably push them out of the bidding. The parties discussed an extension months ago, but with the Dolphins paying Austin Jackson along with Terron Armstead, Hunt is probably on his way out.

Moved from right tackle to right guard in 2021, the former second-round pick has played well inside. As injuries and position changes (along with an O-line coach carousel) continued to take place over the past three years in Miami, Hunt was probably the team’s most reliable O-lineman. But with a top-10 guard contract likely, the Dolphins will face the prospect of replacing both their starting guards and starting center. Connor Williams is also a UFA-to-be, and while he is coming off a December ACL tear, he played well on a two-year Dolphins deal and should garner extensive interest regardless.

The Dolphins are believed to still be trying to keep Wilkins, effectively revealing a priority queue with Hunt at No. 2, but the price point will presumably move them out of the running. Wilkins should be expected to command an average salary in the $24-$25MM range, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said recently. The Dolphins offered the 2019 first-round pick top-10 DT money last year, before the sides broke off talks ahead of the season, but Jackson adds the team has not shown it is comfortable going to the $25MM-AAV place to retain Wilkins.

ESPN’s run stop win rate ranked Wilkins in the top two in 2021 and ’22, and after the Dolphins were hesitant to go to the Quinnen Williams–Dexter Lawrence–Daron Payne–Jeffery Simmons level with their offer due to Wilkins’ modest sack production (11.5 from 2019-22), the Clemson alum ripped off a nine-sack contract year. He is set to cash in, with teams like the Texans and Vikings expected to be in on the bidding. In that likely event, the Dolphins will be tasked with replacing a five-year starter.

Elsewhere on Miami’s depth chart, no Dolphins-Howard reunion — one GM Chris Grier floated as a possibility — will come to pass. Regarding a return to Miami at a reduced rate, the former All-Pro cornerback said (during a 560 WQAM interview) “that door is closed.” Howard expressed a similar sentiment earlier this offseason when asked if he would take a pay cut to stay. That said, the soon-to-be 31-year-old corner will need to play the 2024 season at a lower rate compared to the big-ticket deal — which included $50.6MM in new money — the Dolphins gave him after the Byron Jones deal prompted the ballhawk to gripe about his own contract in the early 2020s.

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