North Charlotte Today

Derrick Brown has expressed positive feelings about his ongoing rehabilitation from a knee injury as he returns to field activities with teammates during voluntary offseason work. Since his knee surgery following the injury sustained in the 2024 season opener against the Saints, Brown, who played 89 percent of the defensive snaps in 2023, has been on a recovery path that began just two days post-operation. He emphasized, "I'm feeling good, man, feeling great, and excited to be back with the team and be back with the guys and moving around a little more."

The injury left Brown unsure about its exact timing. He remarked, "That's still a million-dollar question. Not sure when it happened; I really didn't start feeling anything until Monday morning." The defense significantly felt his absence, setting an all-time record for points allowed. General Manager Dan Morgan highlighted the impact of Brown’s absence, stating, "Losing Derrick, especially the first game of the season, that was a big blow for our defense."

Brown was not just missed for his on-field performance which included a 100-tackle year for a defensive tackle, but also for his leadership. Morgan said, "We lost a lot of big plays, a lot of tackles when we lost him. And not only that, but on top of that, we lost his leadership. So getting him back is going to be huge."

The period without Brown saw the team struggling in several defensive metrics, finishing last in key categories and allowing over 200 rushing yards in the final games. Brown, observing from the sidelines late in the season, understands the challenge ahead, "Man, we take it as a challenge. Nobody wants to finish last in defense in the NFL."

This offseason, the team has made strategic moves to bolster the defense, signing players such as Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, Patrick Jones II, and Tre'von Moehrig. They also plan to strengthen further through the upcoming draft. Brown is optimistic about these changes and is eager to contribute, stating, "We brought in a lot of great guys. I'm excited, you know. Especially missing last year and then being able to bring in guys right now."

As Brown continues his rehabilitation, he is motivated to start anew with the updated team lineup, "I'm excited to get going, that's for sure." With hope for improved synergy and performance, Brown looks forward to building bonds with new teammates and progressing beyond the struggles faced last season.