RYAN KANG | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Left tackle Russell Okung (76), who spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Seahawks, Broncos and Chargers, was traded to Carolina last month in exchange for right guard Trai Turner.

Russell Okung, who survived a lockout and pulmonary embolism over 10 years in the NFL, will wait a few more weeks to return to the field if it means getting back to the game he loves.

“I just received an email last night providing a little more depth and detail about what’s going on,” said Okung, who was traded to the Carolina Panthers last month. “I know there’s a plan to have a virtual offseason, or virtual period, whatever they’re calling it, and I think that time is going to be April 20 toward May 15. We’ll be able to virtually meet—I think that entails video, audio, conferencing and all the like, but look, I’m going on year 11 now. I was a part of the [2011] lockout, and that was a time when we weren’t even able to come back to the facility until the latter part of July. It’s OK if we miss this time. I’m putting a lot of trust in our coaching staff. The players are going to need to be prepared and ready for the demands of the game. It’s important to note the players I’ve talked to they’re working their tails off to be as competitive as they can for the year.”  

Okung is quick to remind everyone that while people miss sports and the idea of a fall without football is nearly inconceivable, the wellbeing of the world is at stake.

“I’ve had a couple people reach out to ask when football is going to start again,” Okung said. “I think it’s important just to take a hard look at the macroeconomic issues. There are a lot of questions at play here, where it’s do you reopen the economy, and how do you figure out a best process to ensure that the overall public is safe?”

The Panthers acquired Okung in exchange for guard Trai Turner in a trade with the Chargers in March. The two-time Pro Bowler was drafted in the first round by Seattle in 2010 out of Oklahoma State. The journey to Carolina includes a reunion with his former Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer, who is in the same position with the Panthers.

“The opportunity to get a left tackle that played at Russell’s level” was key, Panthers general manager Marty Hunrey said. “Obviously we had Pat Meyer, who was with him last year, and very familiar with him. Trai has been a great player for us, but the ability to get an experienced left tackle, somebody who can really help bring Greg Little along, we think Greg is very talented. He has a chance to be a very good player, and yet has some position flexibility.

“We thought one of the goals in this offseason, and we have plenty of them, was to try to improve the depth of our offensive line…we have all the confidence in the world in Greg. It just gives him to come in and get with a guy who has played in this league at a high level for a long time and develop and grow.”

Stay-at-home orders did not interfere with the transaction, as it took place prior to the governors of California and North Carolina enacting them. Okung was on a flight to Carolina as soon as he got the call, which allowed him to complete his physical.

“I didn’t really bump up against any of those barriers in regard to the flights or the health orders across the country,” he said. “I know there are others who weren’t as fortunate as I was.”

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