Panthers' Dave Canales Calls on Lee Hunter, Others to Step Up With Turk Wharton Out
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dave Canales said it was happenstance that the Carolina Panthers drafted a defensive tackle during the same offseason in which defensive lineman Turk Wharton learned he needed neck surgery.
But with Wharton out indefinitely, the Panthers are glad they took Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter in the second round.
“To get big, young bodies into the program’s always a good thing, with (Georgia offensive tackle) Monroe (Freeling) and Lee right off the bat with the first two picks — quality players who we expect to be in the mix to compete to help our team,” Canales said Monday during a Zoom call.
“Philosophically speaking, it was like, best available? Absolutely. And then when these big, physical, violent players come along, we were really excited to be able to add those guys.”
Canales said Wharton began feeling discomfort in his neck “about a week and a half ago” and talked with Denny Kellington, the vice president of player health and performance. Imaging tests “found some things that needed to be addressed from a surgical standpoint,” according to Canales.
Canales, the third-year head coach, did not divulge a timeline for Wharton, who missed eight games in 2025 due to toe and hamstring injuries. Wharton is not expected to be sidelined for the entire season, with Canales calling it a week-to-week situation.
Strong and instinctive as a run defender, but limited on passing downs.
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The Panthers traded up two spots to draft the 6-3, 318-pound Hunter, a two-time All-Big 12 selection who had 17 tackles for loss over his final two college seasons. The pick of Hunter came a year after general manager Dan Morgan took former Florida defensive tackle Cam Jackson (6-6, 328) in the fifth round of the 2025 draft.
Jackson played sparingly as a rookie, finishing with nine tackles in nine games. Canales indicated his role could expand in the wake of Wharton’s surgery.
“And now in a different way,” Canales said, “Lee, Cam Jackson, these guys that we brought into our program, are gonna really need to step up for the guys in different roles.”