Carolina Panthers’ defense, Chau Smith-Wade riding wave 

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade turned in his most eventful performance as a professional with an interception return for a touchdown against Atlanta.

When Monday’s “fun” film session concluded, a grinning Chau Smith-Wade emerged from the Carolina Panthers’ locker room. He was ready to go, hopping on a scooter to start cruising around the corridors of Bank of America Stadium. 

These are good times for the second-year cornerback. 

Smith-Wade scored his first touchdown “since high school” in last week’s 30-0 win against the Atlanta Falcons on a second-quarter pick-six. 

“It was a good break by him,” safety Demani Richardson said. “He’s always a guy who comes in early (for practice) and takes care of his business. He’ll make a play, celebrate and then back to business.”   

On Monday, his work wrapped up, Smith-Wade was ready for a ride. 

“I always scooter,” he said.    

Smith-Wade’s commute to work is about 20 minutes. He transports the scooter in his trunk and breaks it out Uptown. 
“He’s chill,” Richardson said. 

Lessons in perseverance

Emerging as a specialist in covering slot receivers, Smith-Wade collected five tackles and the interception return to help the Panthers secure their first shutout since 2020.

His professional highlight developed after noticing Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. attempt a check-down pass in the flat, missing a wide-open Jamal Agnew downfield. Smith-Wade stepped in front of running back Bijan Robinson, bobbled the ball before controlling it and danced into the end zone. 

“It felt good, man,” Smith-Wade said. “Coach made the perfect call for the perfect situation. For me to be able to prance into the end zone and look at the fans, I started saying, 'Thank y'all, thank y'all.’ I just wanted to give them a nostalgic feeling, really." 

It’s unlikely the Panthers’ first win in three tries meant as much to anyone as it did to Ejiro Evero. The third-year defensive coordinator previously interviewed for head coaching opportunities but directed the 2024 injury-plagued unit that yielded an NFL all-time worst 534 points. 

“I’m happy for the players because our guys deserved it,” Evero said during Thursday’s video conference. “It hasn’t been easy, but the guys are persevering ... not worrying about what’s being said. 

“That was a lot of fun. At the same rate, though, it doesn’t matter anymore. We’ve moved past that and prepare for the next opponent.” 

That would be the New England Patriots, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. The former Myers Park High standout compiled a 101.3 rating over his first three starts this season. 
Can the defensive unit follow up the home win with a similar effort at Gillette Stadium? 

‘Minimizing the small things’ 

In his second season with the Panthers, Richardson said the defense “has turned a corner” by not allowing the Falcons to advance to their 30-yard line and clinched their largest margin of victory since routing the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24, 2016.  

Most of the “small things” that plagued the Panthers over the past several seasons were limited against the Falcons.  

“Yes, for sure, guys minimizing (mistakes),” Richardson said. “It’s always been like some little mistakes here, little mistakes there. I feel like the guys have done a pretty good job of minimizing the small things, being more physical.” 

The Panthers’ physicality limited Robinson to 72 yards on 13 rushes and twice intercepted Penix, including Mike Jackson’s third-quarter pickoff. Richardson recovered a Falcons’ fumble with 37 seconds remaining after rookie Lathan Ransom stripped running back Nathan Carter. 

"I thought the defense played an unbelievable game,” coach Dave Canales said. “The run game plan, the execution, the communication, all that stuff that we've been really just harping on. To take advantage of some of those opportunities with Chau Smith-Wade with the touchdown, Mike Jack with the interception and that, and then that punchout at the end, it's just a form of habits. It's what we’re trying to get done in practice is the more attempts we get on the ball, eventually you can get one out there so I was really proud of the group.” 

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