North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers are grappling with the potential loss of star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is seeking a second opinion on a meniscus tear in his knee. Head coach Dave Canales emphasized the need for the team to move forward despite this setback.

"Definitely a huge loss, right? He's one of our best players. That's big shoes to fill," Canales stated. "But at the same time, we've got players in there, I want them to know and be encouraged."

Canales acknowledged that replacing Brown is not just about filling a roster spot. Brown received a contract extension in April and has been pivotal in leading the team through offseason changes.

"For a guy who means so much to that team," Canales said, "Especially for a guy like Derrick, who really embodies what we want to become as a team."

The Panthers also faced challenges following their 47-10 loss to the Saints. Canales reviewed game footage and identified multiple issues across all phases of play.

"It was playing proper technique throughout the game," he noted. "It was here, and it was there, and it was all over the place."

Reflecting on preseason preparations, Canales mentioned that while initial plans seemed sound based on workloads, he would review everything thoroughly.

"My responsibility as the head coach is to say, OK, let's look at all the processes," he said.

Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders shared his experience from his first NFL game against Chase Young.

"We had a run play and Chase Young just ran straight through my face," Sanders admitted. "That was my real wake-up call to the NFL."

Sanders emphasized focusing on technique moving forward: "Just knowing that you can't outmuscle every guy... So just trying to get stronger and better every day."

Canales reiterated his commitment to playing young talent: "It's only going to make me better in the long run," Sanders echoed.

The Panthers will emphasize winning the turnover battle this week after losing it 3-1 against the Saints.

"We turned the ball over three times. They turned it over once," Canales pointed out.

Tight end Jordan Matthews stressed ball security: "The ball is everything and that's never just on one person."

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will focus on creating more takeaways during practice sessions this week.

"Let's hone in on these focuses," Canales concluded. "We're going to take it up another notch... How much more can we emphasize it? I don't know. But let's find out."