Sept. 11 – The Carolina Panthers placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Derrick Brown on injured reserve after he suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints that ended his season.
Brown, 26, has started 64 of his 67 games since being drafted by Carolina out of Auburn with the seventh overall pick in 2020. He signed a four-year, $96 million contract this offseason, and played 60 of 66 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 47-10 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“Obviously it’s a big loss, isn’t it? He’s one of our best players. It’s a big hole to fill,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “But at the same time, we have guys like that, I want them to know and be encouraged. If you go in, you play with great technique, and you just do your job, we don’t need you to make the special play that Derrick did.
“Just do your job, help the guys on either side of you and that’s the truth of it. If you can play team football with a lot of guys, you can be successful.”
According to multiple reports, the team is planning to sign veteran defensive end Charles Harris. The 29-year-old Harris recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 13 games (three starts) with the Detroit Lions last season.
He totaled 171 tackles, 16.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 90 career games (30 starts) with the Miami Dolphins (2017-19), Atlanta Falcons (2020) and Lions (2021-23). He was selected 22nd by the Dolphins in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Panthers made several other changes on Tuesday. Along with signing outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff, Carolina also signed veteran special teams players Mike Boone and Lonnie Johnson. Both began the season on the practice squad but were promoted to playing time last week.
Meanwhile, defensive end DeShawn Williams and cornerback Azizi Hearn were signed to the practice squad. Williams played in 10 of 16 games for the Panthers last season, while Hearn played on New England’s practice squad until 2023 after spending training camp with Las Vegas.
–Field Level Media