Derrick

Brown

Brown appeared on Thursday’s injury report as a limited participant on Thursday, but successfully practiced in full on Friday. The Panthers’ star defender should have a fruitful outing against an injury-depleted Saints offensive line missing OT Taliese Fuaga (ankle) and C/OG Erik McCoy, who is on injured reserve.

Mid-week additions to the injury report are concerning, particularly for a team’s lynchpin defender. Brown is a difference-maker as both a pass rusher and run defender, boasting 16 quarterback pressures, four sacks and 20 tackles. Whether the Saints can exploit his potential absence on Sunday is up for debate, but having him on the field is certainly ideal for Carolina.

Brown limped off the field late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and was in the blue medical tent for a while. He seemed to be in good spirits on the sideline afterward, but he was listed as questionable to return. The Panthers are down 40-9, so they likely just wanted to hold their best defender out with the Packers on deck next week.

Brown was sidelined for the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear that he suffered in Week 1. Brown has been a “high-impact player” for years, notably setting the defensive linemen record for tackles in a single season (103) in 2023. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports, “judging by conversations with those around him this season, it doesn’t sound like there’s any dropoff in sight.” Brown was held out of preseason play due to a separate rib/oblique issue, but there are no indications that Brown’s Week 1 availability is in question. The Panthers’ defensive leader will have a busy day, attempting to contain the Jaguars’ three-deep rushing attack.

Of course, the caveat is that the Panthers “will be smart” with the Pro Bowl defensive lineman. Brown’s status for the season doesn’t look to be in any doubt after his season-ending meniscus injury in Week 1 last year, but he’ll likely have plenty of off-days in training camp.

Brown suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in Week 1 of last season and said earlier this offseason that his goal is to be ready for Week 1. How that plays out is anybody’s guess, but it’s clear the Panthers are in no rush to put their star defensive tackle back on the field until he’s at 100 percent. Brown racked up a career-high 103 tackles in 2023 and received a lucrative four-year, $96 million contract last offseason for his efforts. His return, coupled with the additions of top-100 draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, should go a long way in bolstering a Panthers defense that finished dead last in points and yards allowed last season.

Graziano suggests the Panthers “might be one of the teams willing to spend big to lure defensive tackle Milton Williams away from the Super Bowl champion Eagles.” The Panthers will also attempt to bolster their edge rush and Graziano lists Saints defensive end Chase Young as an “intriguing option.” Adding Williams and Young to a defensive line featuring Derrick Brown and Jadeveon Clowney could help turn around Carolina’s dire 2024 defense. Safeties Jevon Holland and Camryn Bynum are also reportedly on the Panthers’ short list of preferred defenders.

Brown in Week 1 against the Saints sustained an injury to his meniscus. He’ll require surgery and could be out for much of the season. It’s a brutal blow to a Carolina defense that was shredded by Derek Carr and the Saints on opening day. Without Brown, the Panthers almost certainly have the NFL’s worst pass rush.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Brown — who had one year remaining on his contract — will get around $63 million in guarantees with the new deal. The seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown, 25, set an NFL record for defensive lineman with 103 tackles in 2023; his missed tackle rate was among the league’s lowest among defensive linemen. He has functioned as a run stuffer in the Carolina defense. Pro Football Focus graded Brown as last year’s No. 2 defensive lineman behind Quinnen Williams.

Brown is one of two Panthers players whose fifth-year options are nearing a decision deadline -- the other being cornerback C.J. Henderson. Since being selected by the Panthers with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown has started 46 games, totaling 142 tackles, 21 TFLs, and six sacks. Brown will earn a guaranteed base salary of $11.66 million in 2024 and will hit free agency at the start of 2025.