The Panthers are heading into their matchup with the Broncos with a different voice steering the defense, and by the sound of it, Todd Wash has wasted no time making his presence felt.
Wash, now serving as interim defensive coordinator, stepped in after Carolina fired Ejiro Evero following the 27-19 loss to Green Bay last week. The move has given the Panthers a fresh jolt on that side of the ball, and head coach Dave Canales said the energy has been obvious from the start.
“He coaches with a lot of passion, a lot of energy. He really cares about his players,” Canales said. “He loves building a room that’s connected and a room that’s willing to do the hard work.”
Canales said Wash has spent the week pushing the defense in all the right ways, with an emphasis on communication, accountability and collective effort. The message, according to Canales, has been clear: the standard has to rise.
“Challenging the guys to play together, challenging the guys to demand a certain level of strain, a certain level of excellence from each other, and how we take the grass in practice,” Canales said.
For Wash, the job carries a personal weight. Canales said this is a chance Wash wasn’t sure would come around again, and that the opportunity has clearly energized him.
“He has that moment. He has that opportunity. He’s found a lot of energy in it, and I know that means a lot to him,” Canales said.
That enthusiasm has already reached the locker room, too. Canales said the players have responded to the way Wash has carried himself since taking over.
“I’m very grateful he was willing to do it,” Canales said. “The excitement he’s had and how he’s entered the building and with the guys, the guys have really felt that.”
Now the Panthers have to turn that practice-field energy into production against Denver and quarterback Bo Nix. Canales pointed to Nix’s athleticism, arm talent and decision-making, and made it clear Carolina will need to stay sharp.
“He knows how to win games,” Canales said of Nix. “He just keeps making really good decisions.”
That leaves the Panthers with a straightforward task: match Denver’s discipline while trying to play the kind of connected, physical defense Wash is trying to build.
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