The Carolina Panthers will be without one of their best players for an extended period as Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown suffered a potentially season-ending meniscus injury that will require surgery, a league source confirmed to The Athletic.
In the Panthers’ 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Brown finished with three total tackles and was on the field for all but six defensive snaps.
The 26-year-old had only missed one game since the Panthers selected him with the No. 7 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Losing Brown for any amount of time would be a huge blow to the Panthers. Last season he finished second on the team in both total tackles (103) and passes defended (six). He also added two sacks and an interception in 2023.
What it means to the Panthers
Brown’s injury is a devastating blow to coach Dave Canales’ first season. Besides Jadeveon Clowney, Brown is the only Pro Bowler on the Panthers’ defense. The former first-round pick from Auburn had a huge breakout season in 2023 when he finished with 103 tackles, the most by a NFL defensive lineman since the stat started being tracked.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said last week he thought the 26-year-old Brown could be an eight to 10-sack producer in 2024. — Joe Person, Panthers beat writer
How will Carolina replace him?
Brown played 60 of the possible 66 defensive snaps Sunday, coming out only when Canales and Evero started pulling starters for the Saints’ final two offensive series.
A’Shawn Robinson, a free agent acquisition, had nine tackles in his Panthers’ debut at the other defensive end spot. The Panthers likely will go to a committee approach involving Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray and Jayden Peevy in trying to replace Brown. GM Dan Morgan also could look for outside help: The Panthers hold the top position on the waiver wire through at least Week 3. — Person
Required reading
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
