What happened: Offensive tackle Taylor Moton returned to the practice field Thursday after Carolina opened his practice window on Oct. 12. Moton had been sidelined since July 21, when he was placed on the non-football injury list due to blood clots in his lung.

Why it matters: Moton described experiencing chest congestion, coughing up blood, and life-threatening blood pressure during the summer medical episode before doctors discovered the clots. A second-round pick (64th overall) out of Western Michigan in the 2017 NFL Draft, his return to on-field work marks the first step toward rejoining the active roster after missing the start of the 2026 regular season.

What to watch: Carolina has a 21-day window from Oct. 12 to evaluate Moton in practice before deciding whether to activate him to the 53-man roster.