CHARLOTTE All season, the Panthers have been in situations where guys have to step into new roles on the fly. On the offensive line, that's just part of life, as they used 10 different starting lineups in the first 13 games alone.

But for backup tackleYosh Nijman, that's just been part of his career.

The veteran tackle has been that guy who steps in, seemingly as long as he's been in the league, but specifically in some big situations with the Packers. So nothing's really different now, with Panthers left tackleIkem Ekwonumissing practice the last two days and him working with the ones.

Well, possibly a few things.

"I was 25, and my knees felt good," the almost-30-year-old Nijman said with a laugh. "I would say I'm more handsome now than I was then."

But other than that, the experiences he had in Green Bay could serve him well this week and in general.

During his third year with the Packers in 2021, when left tackle Elgton Jenkins went down with a torn ACL in midseason, Nijman took over at left tackle on a veteran-laden team featuring quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"I was with a good group of guys; a veteran quarterback, and the expectations were high," Nijman said. "More so player-to-player than coach-to-player, so my teammates trusted me, and that's what I'm trying to do here if my number's called."

Rodgers declared his trust early, and while Nijman was in the lineup, the Packers won five straight down the stretch to secure the top seed in the NFC playoffs, so he knows about the kind of pressure he could be walking into this year. The Panthers can't clinch a berth or be eliminated this week, but they can take a big step toward their first playoff berth since 2017 with a win over the Buccaneers.

So for Nijman, having been in that spot makes this week's assignment easier, if Ekwonu's not able to return.

"Definitely, I'm more experienced now, a little bit more relaxed, I've been through the ups and downs, the rigors of being an NFL player," he said. "So I would say more like more confidence, you know, more seasoned, more knowledgeable, right?

"I think I still prepare the same, that preparation that I have just kind of sets me up for just being completely confident on Sunday, if I'm called on."

Of course, he's been called on before. He started the opener at left tackle when Ekwonu was coming off a preseason appendectomy. He started the wins over Dallas and Green Bay at right tackle forTaylor Motonwhen he was dealing with injuries.

That's how you build trust with a group, and how you sustain things when players are hurt.

"It's just his understanding of the role that he was brought here to be, when you come in here, and you have a sixth overall pick and then Moneybags on the other side," veteranAustin Corbettsaid, referring to Ekwonu and Moton. "You've got to understand your role and so I think for him, he's done a fantastic job of just being in each one of their hip pockets, just communicating with them, but then also communicating with Damien Lewis, with myself, and just understanding lingo and what it is.

"And mostly, just recognizing that he's played a lot of football and no moment's too big for him."

The 30-year-old Corbett knows that well, since he started the season at center, but after coming back from IR, he has started at all three interior positions, moving back to guard whenCade Mayswas well, and leaning into the role.

"You just got to grow with the game and just be smart and understand," Corbett said. " I enjoy that side of it, so it's not hard for me to kind of just figure out different things, and what works for me might not work for somebody, so just passing on wisdom when you can.

"It just takes longer to warm up."

But if Nijman's sore and takes longer to warm up, it's not as evident to his coaches.

"Yeah, athletically, he's got it," offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said. "He's got what you want, and he looks the part, and he does a great job. When he's locked in, and he has a number of those reps during the week, I think that's when you see him excel the most. So it's actually exciting for him to get a week like this, where Ickey might be down for a couple of practices, and Yosh gets extra reps, and he gets to put himself in those shoes of a starter and get the majority of the reps going into the game.

"Yosh is, just as an athlete, having a good swing guy like that has been certainly invaluable for us."

But perhaps the biggest part is the perspective, the having been in these situations before, and knowing how to handle them.

"I mean, you want to treat all the games the same," Nijman said. "You don't want to get too high, too low, obviously. But you know, December football is pretty important, and whoever's in there, you know the stakes are high, the standards are high, and you know you've just got to get your job done the best way you can."