PHILADELPHIA -- The Carolina Panthers will have right tackle Taylor Moton (lung, blood clot) and defensive end Tershawn Wharton (neck) available for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Panthers announced Saturday that Moton and Wharton had been activated from the non-football injury/illness and physically unable to perform lists, respectively. Running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) was also activated off injured reserve.
Carolina had three openings on its 53-man roster, so activating Moton, Wharton and Etienne was possible without corresponding moves. Moton and Wharton missed all of training camp and the preseason -- along with the first four games of the regular season -- with their ailments.
Moton had been listed as questionable to play after being a full participant in practice throughout the week. First-round pick Monroe Freeling has started in place of Moton throughout the first four games of his rookie season and offered mixed results. But Freeling sustained a knee injury in the Week 4 win over the Detroit Lions and was given a doubtful tag entering the weekend. Moton, now active, is likely to start at right tackle against the Eagles.
Wharton has been working his way back to the field since undergoing neck surgery in May. The veteran defensive lineman, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal last offseason, has been hindered by various injuries since arriving in Carolina in 2025. He has played just nine games for the franchise, producing 36 total tackles and two sacks.
Wharton, like Moton, was a full participant in practice and was listed as questionable on the final injury report. If active Sunday, he is likely to rotate with the likes of Bobby Brown III, second-round pick Lee Hunter and undrafted rookie Aaron Hall, opposite fellow starter Derrick Brown.
Etienne's return from injured reserve was signaled by coach Dave Canales last week. The coach confirmed that stance Friday. Etienne injured his ankle during the preseason finale against the Houston Texans in August and was subsequently placed on injured reserve ahead of the league's cut-down deadline. He was a full participant in workouts this week, and Canales said he was confident Etienne would play against Philadelphia following the final practice of Week 6.
With fellow running back AJ Dillon (ankle) ruled out for Sunday, Etienne, a 2025 fourth-round pick, could bring stability to the running back depth chart and the return game on special teams. Last season, Etienne had an up-and-down performance as the team's primary kick and punt returner, but Canales has said multiple times this season, even with Etienne on IR, that the former Georgia running back would be the primary option at both jobs upon his return.
Etienne is also likely to back up starting running back Chuba Hubbard in the backfield. The team also elevated running back Anthony Tyus III and cornerback Robert Rochell from the practice squad to the game-day roster to provide additional support at their respective positions.
Following the activations of Wharton, Moton and Etienne, the Panthers still are monitoring the statuses of Freeling, outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and left guard Damien Lewis (elbow). Phillips and Lewis were listed as questionable Friday.