North Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero acknowledges the challenge of replacing Derrick Brown in the lineup following a season-ending knee injury to the star defensive tackle. "You don't replace him," Evero said Thursday. "So, it's the next man up, and you know, we have a lot of confidence and faith, and all of the D-linemen are on our roster."

Evero is no stranger to adapting to such setbacks. Last year, he lost cornerback Jaycee Horn and linebacker Shaq Thompson early in the season. The previous year with Denver, he dealt with the midseason trade of star pass-rusher Bradley Chubb.

"Yeah, and that's just life in the NFL," Evero stated. "You feel for the guys because...he was a great guy...and then he's gone. And you miss that part of it." He added that while Brown's absence will be felt both on game day and in daily interactions, it presents an opportunity for other players.

Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik discussed quarterback Bryce Young's latitude at the line of scrimmage but emphasized keeping calls concise to prevent defensive confusion tactics known as "Hollywooding." Idzik explained, "When you give them a lot of time pre-snap...they can try to disguise coverages a little bit more."

Punter Johnny Hekker was limited in practice due to a back issue that flared up during warm-ups before Sunday's game against New Orleans. Despite this, Hekker managed an average of 38.2 yards per punt during the game.

Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith noted that while they were not working out punters as of Wednesday, there is always a contingency plan involving available punters who have recent game experience.

Smith also highlighted the addition of veterans Mike Boone and Lonnie Johnson to the 53-man roster for their contributions on special teams. Boone brings extensive experience from various teams, while Johnson is still acclimating but has shown promise.