CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Carolina Panthers after their 47-10 defeat in Sunday's season opener against the Saints, think again.
Now one of the team's top players could be out the rest of the 2024 season.
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones reported Monday that defensive tackle Derrick Brown suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in the loss to New Orleans. Other NFL media have reported that Brown will require meniscus surgery, but the exact severity of the injury is still unknown at this point.
The Panthers officially placed Brown on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.
Brown played 60 defensive snaps Sunday and another eight on special teams. He was one of seven Carolina players to play at least 90% of the team's defensive snaps in defeat.
This offseason, Carolina signed Brown to a four-year, $96 million extension. He is the second-highest paid Panthers player in terms of total contract value behind offensive lineman Robert Hunt ($100 million over five years).
Even before Brown went down, the Panthers' defense had no solution for the New Orleans' offense, which scored a touchdown or field goal on each of its first nine possessions Sunday.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr finished the game with only one more incompletion (19-of-23, 200 yards) than touchdown passes (three), while New Orleans' ground attack also gained 180 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Carolina's offense couldn't keep up from the jump. Bryce Young's first pass of the season was intercepted after he overthrew new receiver Diontae Johnson, and he had another pick on the Panthers' first drive of the second half.
Young finished Sunday's game 13-of-30 for 161 yards and a quarterback rating of 32.8.
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