North Charlotte Today

When Panthers head coach Dave Canales addressed his team at the hotel on Saturday night, he emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities. This message resonated with his players as they secured a 36-30 overtime victory against the Cardinals.

"It's about opportunity, and we talked about that last night — don't miss your shot," Canales said after the game. The season has been challenging for the Panthers, marked by injuries and unexpected events. However, many players have stepped up when given a chance.

Undrafted rookie safety Demani Richardson made a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Harris, another undrafted player, recovered a fumble in the second quarter. Jacoby Windmon filled in as starting inside linebacker after two others were placed on injured reserve.

Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu noted, "I feel like there's definitely something special here." Despite their struggles this season, including ranking low defensively, the Panthers found ways to make key plays.

Veteran outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum returned six weeks ago after dealing with health issues and has contributed significantly since then. The Panthers' defense improved notably during this period.

On offense, quarterback Bryce Young relied on undrafted receivers due to injuries among top picks. Dan Chisena was one such receiver who joined from the practice squad recently.

A respiratory virus also affected several players before Sunday's game. Robert Hunt was among those who fell ill but managed to play through it.

Brady Christensen stepped in as center when Cade Mays became sick on Sunday morning. He described how they adapted quickly: "We're all pounding vitamin C... wearing masks."

Despite these challenges, Christensen expressed satisfaction with their performance: "It was a great feeling to go get that win today."

The team's resilience reflects what Canales described as culture-building within the organization: "Dave last night when he was talking to us... don't miss your shot."

Christensen added that playing for each other has been crucial this year: "I think it's amazing to watch us play for each other type of thing."