The Carolina Panthers’ offensive line faced another round of changes during Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers but managed to secure a 16-13 win at Lambeau Field. The victory came on a last-second 49-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald and was supported by the team running for 163 yards, allowing only one sack of quarterback Bryce Young, and limiting Packers pass-rusher Micah Parsons to no sacks or pressures.
Center Austin Corbett described the approach: “It’s the griminess, just the dirtiness, the love of the struggle of football. It’s just that. It’s not going to happen in one play, and it’s just that — embrace the physicality, embrace the challenge, the opportunity, the moment. One play at a time, and that’s just what this team is doing, and we’re going to continue to do that, and we’re going to enjoy this now, but everybody’s mentality now is like we’ve got a big division game coming up, and we’ve got to take it and enjoy it, and then we’re on to them tomorrow.”
The Panthers have started their seventh different group of offensive linemen in nine weeks. Right tackle Taylor Moton was available only for emergencies and did not start. Left guard Damien Lewis briefly left with a shoulder injury before returning; Jake Curhan stepped in as his replacement before moving to right guard after Chandler Zavala exited with an elbow injury.
Curhan has previous experience with head coach Dave Canales from their time together in Seattle. He joined Carolina after being signed off Arizona’s practice squad in October when Zavala went on injured reserve.
Head coach Dave Canales commented: “Jake and I were together in Seattle, so he’s got a lot of familiarity with our run game, our pass protections, philosophy, and how we handle things. He’s a very sharp guy and he’s got a lot of versatility. I’ve seen him play all but center, really, I think in the time that I’ve been around him. And to be able to pick him up from Arizona’s practice squad a couple of weeks ago was huge for me because it gives us another veteran player that allows us to have the continuity for when things happen, and he did a great job going in there and executing with the guys.”
Players credited coaches Harold Goodwin (run game coordinator), Joe Gilbert (offensive line coach), and Dean Petzing (offensive quality control) for preparing them each week despite frequent lineup changes.
Damien Lewis said: “I’m going to be honest with you, we’ve got three great coaches in the offense and man, they put us through it every week.”
Jake Curhan added: “I think it’s just a testament to what Goody and Joe and Dean have going on in that room… You know it’s a familiar offense for me, but it’s new line coaches, and every time you have that, it’s learning new techniques and different ways that they like things done. I’m still learning that, but I’ve played a lot of football so it’s just stepping in and really doing what you know how to do. And I think. The coaches and the guys who’ve been playing here for a couple years make it really easy to do that.”
Despite losing Pro Bowl guard Rob early in the season due to injury—and having struggled last year when offensive line instability led to 65 sacks—the current group has maintained performance standards.
Corbett emphasized: “That’s kind of the standard… The expectation is physical and dirty rough; things are going to happen. It’s that next-man-up mentality that there cannot be a drop-off. There has to be continuance into our standard…”
Curhan noted what these wins mean for building confidence within this young team: “I think it means a lot for both like—the guys having belief…we can compete with teams like that…it was first time I feel like since I’ve been here—that we really went out there competed with team that’s considered better teams especially within own conference…”
Lewis summarized their approach: “It’s big; every game—it’s Super Bowl game my eyes…what we’ve been trying preach through locker room is Super Bowl game every week…just motivate each other…And this is great game—we did win against playoff team—so guys are fired up…”
The Panthers now turn their focus toward next week’s home division matchup against New Orleans Saints as they aim to continue adapting amid ongoing roster changes.
