CHARLOTTE — Derrick Brown, a key player for the Panthers, has been focusing on his recovery from a knee injury that sidelined him last season. After undergoing surgery and spending nine weeks on crutches, Brown is now in the process of relearning to walk.
“When they took my crutch away from me, I did have to relearn that,” Brown said after the final day of Panthers minicamp. “Nine weeks of being on crutches, no weight bearing, and then trying to get on the treadmill, walk again.”
Brown has openly discussed the challenges he faced during his rehabilitation and his eagerness to return to football. He emphasizes that recovery involves both physical and mental aspects. “I think it was just it was a mental game first,” he admitted.
While still limited in practice, Brown feels optimistic about returning to full strength by training camp in five weeks. He expects to be ready with some load management.
“Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I get cleared,” Brown stated. “And then at that point it’s just getting back in football shape.”
The defensive line unit has undergone changes with new additions like Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III joining through free agency. This has strengthened the group significantly.
“It’s such a competitive, great group,” Dave Canales noted regarding the revamped defensive line. “We’re bigger, we’re faster, and we got a lot of experience on that line.”
Brown also commented on the camaraderie within the team: “I feel like right now in our room we’ve got a bunch of selfless guys.”
As training camp approaches and with personal milestones ahead—such as expecting his baby daughter—Brown remains committed to being prepared for September.
“I’m not tied here because of rehab,” he said. “But I do feel like I owe it to my teammates.”
