Louis

Leonard

Player’s facial hair and helmet combination should have earned a multi-year contract. We’ll miss him, but Dave Zastudil will take over punting duties. Leonard, a big body from Fresno State, will work behind starter Ethan Kelley and Ted Washington at nose tackle.

Leonard had recently emerged as a starter and is Carolina’s biggest defensive lineman at 6'4/330. The run defense woes will continue indefinitely.

It’s another blow to the Panthers’ poor run-defense. Leonard had emerged as a starter and he was their biggest lineman at 6'4/330.

Leonard’s ankle surgery will call for a six-month recovery period. The Panthers now have only Damione Lewis, Nick Hayden, and rookie Sunny Harris on the roster as defensive tackles. Marion Barber and/or Felix Jones could have a field day next week against a woeful Panthers run defense.

Leonard was an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2007. He’s bounced around since, but has size (6'4/330) Carolina is desperate for inside. Still, he won’t save what we expect to be one of the NFL’s worst run defenses.

Veteran Colts castoff Ed Johnson should enter the mix during training camp, but this remains a subpar cast on the interior. The Panthers will once again have trouble stopping the run in 2010.

Leonard bounced between countless teams before landing in Carolina in 2009 training camp and excelling on the practice field. He’ll be safe at this tender level, and has an outside chance to be Ma’ake Kemoeatu’s successor.

Leonard, 26 in July, lasted just two games last season before breaking his ankle and going on injured reserve. The Panthers still see some potential in the 6'4/330-pound wide body, and have currently penciled him in as a starter.

The Broncos were reported to have set up Friday visits with Jason Hatcher and Derek Landri, but otherwise they haven’t been taking their interior defensive line situation seriously all offseason. Leonard, a former undrafted free agent, has five career starts in four seasons and one career sack. This will remain a defense to target for fantasy running backs.