A’Shawn Robinson, a defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers, spoke on Tuesday about his motivation to return to the field after missing out on the NFL playoffs last season. Robinson, who has played nine years in the league and won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, said he was “angry” during the offseason.
“Didn’t get the chance to go dance,” Robinson said, referring to not making it into the postseason. “And I like to go dance, so.”
Robinson has appeared in seven playoff games throughout his career and noted that returning to regular play after reaching those heights is difficult. He pointed out that watching both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles—teams Carolina nearly beat during their regular season matchups—compete in the Super Bowl added to his frustration.
“Watching everybody else and watching the teams that we played against and watching those two teams that made it to the ‘chip, how we played against those teams, just knowing that we lost those games because we didn’t finish,” Robinson said after training camp practice. “We didn’t do things correctly to uphold and to achieve the goals of getting the ‘W.'”
He recalled key moments from last season when opportunities slipped away. Against Kansas City in Week 12, Carolina allowed a late scramble by Patrick Mahomes that set up a game-winning field goal. In Week 14 versus Philadelphia, missed connections on offense and strong running by Saquon Barkley contributed to another narrow loss.
“That just fueled me to want to come back and do more, not only for myself, but for others, for everybody, so that way I can be the best leader I can be,” Robinson explained.
Despite playing more defensive snaps than ever before last season—including increased time as a pass rusher—Robinson welcomed his expanded role. He described it as an opportunity he had worked toward over his career.
“I accept the challenge that comes to me,” he said. “God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers, so I don’t really complain about anything that’s been given to me. I feel that I worked my whole career to get something like that, and I got the opportunity.”
The Panthers have made several additions along their defensive line this offseason: Bobby Brown III joins from Los Angeles while Tershawn Wharton arrives from Kansas City; Derrick Brown also returns following injury recovery.
“It’s great, you know, keeping consistency high and being able to have no drop off and relying on your brothers and trusting one another and going out there and dominate; it’s a great feeling to have that counterpart next to you,” Robinson commented about building chemistry with teammates like Derrick Brown.
Although he spent much of last year working alongside Brown in meetings rather than on-field action due to injuries, Robinson believes their understanding remains strong heading into this season.
“I feel we have chemistry still,” said Robinson. “Even though … yeah, we didn’t have a year on the field but … can communicate without even saying a word … But when you get to the field you do got [sic] still build that chemistry and I think we are building those things.”
With roughly five weeks until opening day, expectations rest on how well this restructured defensive line will work together under veteran leadership such as Robinson’s.
“How hard they work and how hard they push each other,” Robinson said of what makes a unit successful. “And not just one person thinking about themselves but thinking about the D-line as a whole … I feel like [the D-line] helps win those games in late rounds … giving DBs opportunities … helps extend our longevity of getting things accomplished.”
