The 7-6 Panthers find themselves at the top of the NFC South standings, a half-game ahead of the spiraling Bucs. As it pushes for a division title, Carolina hopes to have Pro Bowl right guard Robert Hunt back for at least a portion of the stretch run.
Hunt, one of the Panthers’ two big-ticket free agent investments at the guard position in 2024, sustained a torn biceps in Week 2 and has been on injured reserve ever since. Earlier this week, head coach Dave Canales expressed his hope that the club will be able to open Hunt’s 21-day practice window before the end of the regular season (via Joe Person of The Athletic).
A better run-blocker than pass-blocker, Hunt’s return would add further support to an offense that has produced the 10th-most rushing yards per game in 2025. The two-headed attack of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard has buoyed an offense that has failed to generate much production through the air, though third-year quarterback Bryce Young has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives this season.
Hunt, 29, was limited to 11 games due to injury during his platform year with the Dolphins in 2023, but he had otherwise been durable since Miami made him a second-round pick in 2020. In his absence, a number of players have been shuffled through the right guard slot.
Third-year pro Chandler Zavala relieved Hunt in Week 2 and started at RG in Weeks 3 and 4. Unfortunately, he sustained a knee injury in the Week 4 contest and landed on IR himself. Brady Christensen was the next man up and started four games before a torn Achilles brought a premature end to his 2025 campaign.
In his return to action in Week 9, Zavala sustained an elbow injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the game. He was replaced by Jake Curhan, and then Austin Corbett lined up at RG for Week 10.
That was the first ime Corbett had taken snaps at right guard since 2023, and it did not go well. He was relegated to the bench in Week 11, and Zavala again took the right guard reins. He managed to make it through that game unscathed, but a calf injury sustained during the Panthers’ Week 12 loss to the 49ers forced Curhan back onto the field. Curhan went on to start in Week 13 and played every offensive snap in an upset victory over the Rams.
Now, fresh off their Week 14 bye, the Panthers are giving Corbett another shot at right guard in Week 15 (via Person). The 30-year-old blocker beat out Cade Mays for the starting center job this summer, but Corbett suffered an MCL injury in Week 2 and joined Hunt on IR after that game. That allowed Mays to take over at the pivot, and the impending free agent has played himself into consideration for a second contract with Carolina.
In light of all of the above-referenced injuries, it is perhaps not surprising that Mays also missed each of the last two games with an ankle injury. He has been cleared for Week 15, and he will start on Sunday, with Corbett lined up to his right.