Walker, a former seventh-round pick out of Penn State, started the last three seasons at left tackle for the Packers, giving Carolina a high-level player regardless of Ekwonu’s condition.
Walker said he talked to Ekwonu after signing, just to get background on the team and the city. He’s been a fan of the Panthers’ incumbent left tackle since they were in the same draft class, when he Ekwonu’s tape got his attention.
“He had one of the nastiest highlights I’ve ever seen as an offensive lineman,” Walker said.
Now, it’s on Walker to step in, as long as Ekwonu’s recovering. He said in their conversations, Ekwonu is in good spirits, but no one has a firm timetable for his recovery, so trying to gauge it at this point is moot.
“I mean, so at the end of the day, my good friend Ickey is down,” Wheeler said. “But you know, someone has to do the job, and I think I’m a very good football player and I think I’m going to help this team get better.”