Carolina Panthers need Derrick Brown’s Pro Bowl standard  

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Derrick Brown has gotten off to a slow start in 2026, but the Carolina Panthers need him to be a force at defensive tackle in order to succeed.

Late in the fourth quarter in last November’s Carolina-Los Angeles Rams game, Panthers defensive tackle Derricks Brown strip-sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. 

D.J. Wonnum recovered the fumble, which sealed the 31-28 victory and effectively clinched the NFC South division title. 

The Panthers needed Brown. 

With the Detroit Lions coming to Bank America Stadium for the injury-plagued Panthers’ first Sunday Night Football appearance since Dec. 4, 2016, and their top two cornerbacks on injured reserve, Brown needs to deliver, unlike his first two outings this season. 

In a Week 1 defensive debacle, Brown committed two “bonehead plays” as the Panthers lost 59-37 to Chicago at Bank of America Stadium, surrendering the most points in the franchise’s 32-year history. 

Through two outings, Brown collected five total tackles, none for a loss. The 2023 All-Pro ranked No. 98 among 120 qualified linemen, per Pro Football Focus. Last Sunday, during the Panthers’ 21-18 loss to Cleveland, Brown rebounded with an 82.4 PFF grade, the defensive’s second-highest mark. 

In and out of training camp with knee maintenance, Brown did not dress for preseason games. Was he ready to start the regular season?  
Is he playing himself into shape? 

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero didn’t sound concerned.

“Derrick was ready to play,” Evero said Thursday. “Like a lot of us, we all want to be better.” 

With cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson sidelined for six to eight weeks, the Panthers likely will need Brown to compete to his Pro Bowl standard. 

Playing into shape 

Following Wednesday’s walkthrough practice, defensive lineman Bobby Brown III spoke of his confidence in lining up with Brown against the Lions. He believes in his teammate. 

“He's our juggernaut,” Bobby Brown said. “He's our captain, so it's definitely important for DB to get going. It’s good for everybody when he has a good game.” 
Case in point.  

Against the Bears, Brown recorded an uncharacteristic 31.7 PFF grade as the Panthers yielded six touchdowns during seven red-zone trips. They yielded two red-zone touchdowns in their past two games. 

The Lions (2-1) enter Sunday with the league’s eighth-ranked passing offense, averaging 247.7 yards per game. The Panthers’ secondary, with Horn and Jackson patrolling the perimeter, ranked fifth after yielding an average of 172.3 passing yards in their opening three games. With one of the league’s top cornerback duos out of action, Brown will need to produce additional pressure on Lions quarterback Jared Goff to limit big plays against and a young core of cornerbacks. Rookie Will Lee III, special teams ace Akayleb Evans and second-year player Chau Smith-Wade are expected to play the majority of snaps Sunday. 

Panthers coach Dave Canales didn’t sound overly concerned when asked Wednesday on the defensive unit’s dependence on Brown creating front-line chaos, while helping to develop the room’s young core, rookies Lee Hunter and Aaron Hall and second-year pro TeRah Edwards.  

“I love Derrick,” Canales said. “He’s one of our leaders, getting after it every day on the practice field, during games. He's been doing an excellent job for us connecting with that full unit. His impact on guys like Lee Hunter. It’s been huge. Aaron Hall popping in there and giving us some quality snaps. T. Edwards ... these guys come in and they see Derrick work the way he does, and it just brings the whole unit together.” 

DC Ejiro Evero: ‘Derrick Brown’s a Pro Bowl player’ 

In 2023, Brown collected 103 total tackles, establishing an NFL record for defensive tackles. He made the Pro Bowl as an alternate.  

After sustaining a knee injury and missing all but one half of the ‘24 campaign, Brown appeared in all 17 regular-season games and the NFC Wild Card rematch against the Rams, compiling 73 total tackles, including five sacks, seven pass breakups and the forced fumble. 

When it came to Pro Bowl voting, however, Brown said he felt snubbed. 

“Well, I don’t think you can ask anybody in this league that doesn’t think Derrick Brown's a Pro Bowl player,” Evero said.  

Case in point: With Brown out in ‘24, the defense struggled, yielding the most points in league history (534). With Brown in the lineup in ‘25, the unit proved to No. 15 in scoring against, leading the Panthers to their first postseason appearance since ‘17.  

“That, that speaks for itself,” Evero said. “He doesn’t need to prove anything.” 

Really? 

Against the Bears, Brown committed a roughing-the-passer penalty and lined up offside, which eventually negated an interception. The Bears, who gained 552 yards, scored touchdowns on both drives. 
To top off his poor Week 1 start, Brown was fined $17,911 by the NFL for a late hit on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. 

“It sucks,” Brown said, “but it’s one (expletive) game. We’ve got a whole season. I’m not (expletive) sitting here and hitting the panic button. I’ve still got faith in every single man in this room… I’ve been down and out before. I will (expletive) hang it on me for those two touchdowns that they got for those two stupid ass penalties on me.” 

Coming off the underwhelming performance, Bobby Brown noticed his teammate immediately refocused his attention on the Panthers’ Week 2 preparations.  

“I feel like he just attacked the week, like he normally does,” said Bobby Brown, who has endured back issues but expects to start Sunday. “Nothing really changed as far as his preparation, but I feel like he attacked the week with more intentionality and detail.” 

At 1-2, the Panthers need more.  

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