What happened: Freeling worked without a jersey during Sunday pregame warmups as he deals with an injury sustained on Sunday Night Football. The game-day inactive designation follows early-week optimism from head coach Dave Canales on Oct. 5 regarding his availability for the trip to Philadelphia.

Why it matters: Carolina invested a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to make Freeling a key piece of its offensive tackle rotation. The rookie had cleared concussion protocol on Oct. 4 to play against Detroit before encountering this latest setback, forcing the offensive line to adjust its protection on the road.

What to watch: Carolina faces Philadelphia in Week 6 on Sunday without Freeling available in the tackle rotation. Practice participation reports ahead of Week 7 will provide the next official update on his status.