The Carolina Panthers have a defensive problem that’s getting harder to ignore.
After a lopsided loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend, Carolina is sitting at 3-3 and hanging onto first place in the NFC South by a thread. The Panthers were outplayed from start to finish at home, and even with Tampa Bay dealing with injuries, Carolina never found a rhythm on either side of the ball.
That collapse only sharpened the concern around Ejiro Evero’s defense. The offense has generally done its part this season, but the defense has been the unit holding the Panthers back, and Sunday’s performance brought that issue right back into focus. Even after the front office poured resources into the defensive group this offseason, the results still haven’t matched the investment.
The numbers attached to Evero’s tenure make the problem even starker. Since he took over as Carolina’s defensive coordinator in 2023, the Panthers are the only team in the league with a negative expected points added in rush defense, checking in at minus-2.30.
For Carolina, that’s not a small flaw. It’s the kind of stat that points to a deeper issue, especially for a team trying to stay in the playoff picture. The Panthers need their run defense to tighten up, because if it doesn’t, the rest of the season could start slipping away.
Head coach Dave Canales has backed the scheme, saying the players simply didn’t execute. Still, that explanation only goes so far if the same issues keep showing up. At some point, the Panthers will need something to change, and that could force some uncomfortable decisions.
Evero’s seat could heat up quickly if the defense doesn’t turn things around. Carolina wants to get back to the playoffs, but the way this unit has played so far could make that a much tougher road.
The next chance to respond comes quickly. The Panthers are headed to Green Bay for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Packers, who are also coming off a rough loss.
Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PT/8:15 p.m.
ET at Lambeau Field.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Face A Brutal O-Line Problem At 3-3
A promising start to the season took a sudden hit when the Panthers lost right tackle Taylor Moton to injured reserve after he suffered a fractured fibula against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moton has been one of the steadier pieces up front, so his absence lands at an awkward time for a Carolina team that has already shown it still has work to do in protecting Bryce Young and keeping the offense on schedule.
Young spoke after the game about Motons injury and the Panthers overall performance, and the next few days now feel especially important for an offensive line trying to regroup. Carolina is 3-3 heading into a Week 8 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, and how the Panthers handle the right side of the line could shape much more than just one Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Have A Cornerback Problem They Shouldn't Wait To Fix
The Panthers are counting on help at cornerback to arrive soon, with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both expected back from injuries in the coming weeks. Even so, the position feels thin right now, and Robert Rochell has had to provide support after being elevated from the practice squad, a reminder that Carolina is one setback away from leaning even harder on limited depth.
Horn and Jackson returning would help stabilize the secondary, but the broader concern is what happens if the rehab timeline shifts or one of them runs into another issue. For a team trying to keep its defense intact, waiting for perfect health at one of footballs most vulnerable spots can be a risky approach, which is why adding another cornerback may be the more practical move before the Panthers are forced into it. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Had A Few Bright Spots In A Loss That Got Worse
The loss to Tampa Bay was ugly from the start and only got worse as the afternoon went on, but Pro Football Focuss grades did surface a few Panthers who held up better than the final score suggested. On offense, Damien Lewis and Taylor Moton were among the brighter spots in a game where Carolina spent too much time trying to stem the tide and not enough time finding any rhythm.
Akayleb Evans, meanwhile, landed at the other end of the grading sheet on a defense that had no answer for the Buccaneers on the ground. Tampa Bay piled up 258 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the kind of production that turns a bad outing into a lopsided one and leaves Carolina sorting through a long list of problems beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]