The Panthers’ defensive reset has already started to take shape under Todd Wash, and the early read from the locker room is that the interim coordinator brought a jolt of emotion with him.
Carolina fired DC Ejiro Evero and elevated DL coach Todd Wash into the role, and EDGE Princely Umanmielen said Wash’s first meeting with the defense left a strong impression. Umanmielen described Wash as visibly moved by the opportunity and said that energy carried into how he addressed the group.
“That first meeting that we had with him, he almost teared up in there,” Umanmielen said, via Mike Kaye of ESPN. “Like you could just really see the passion he has for the game.
Just real genuine passion for the game. He got up there and the way he talked to us, the way he presented what the defense is gonna look like, you could just tell how much passion he has and it really makes you want to play hard for him.”
That same tone came through for OLB Patrick Jones II, who said Wash’s approach immediately hit the right note with the defensive side of the ball.
“It really means a lot to him,” Jones said. “Like you could tell, he was emotional about it.
… And when you see someone go up there and talk like that - their passion - it gets you really fired up. … Like, ‘I want to go to war for you.
I want to go to war with you.’ Cause it really means something when it really means a lot.”
DT Derrick Brown pointed to another trait that has stood out since Wash began working with the Panthers in 2023: he gives players room to speak and actually takes that input seriously.
“He listens to his players, allows you to have a voice and also takes what you have to say into consideration,” Brown said. “I think from Day 1 that’s the way he’s been with me and our room. And you appreciate that as a player.”
On the injury front, CB Mike Jackson said he’s nearing a return from his groin issue.
“ I feel like I’ll be back probably in the next couple of weeks, so we’re getting close, ” Jackson said, via Panthers Wire. “ I’m getting that itch.
Like, I’m ready to go back to playing football now. “
In New Orleans, rookie WR Jordyn Tyson is set to make his NFL debut against the Browns after being activated ahead of Week 9, and he says he’s arriving in strong shape after his time on injured reserve.
“ I ran the fastest I ran since I been here in rehab. I feel more explosive than I ever have, ” Tyson said, via PFT.
“ So I think I’m doing pretty good. I think I’m doing just fine.
”
Saints OT Kelvin Banks Jr., who has been on injured reserve since Week 2, was also in line to return. Kellen Moore said the team was still evaluating his status for Week 9 before he was later activated and prepared to play.
“He’s doing a really nice job. Our training room has done a lot of work with him,” Moore said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “He’s in a good position to build and want to see what today looks like and then make a decision on what Wednesday needs to look like.”
Moore also addressed two bigger-picture issues for New Orleans: the run defense and the slow starts. The Saints sit 29th against the run, and Moore said the fix has to come from everyone on the field.
“We got to do a better job of playing team defense in the run game. It takes all 11.
Got to do a better job,” Moore said. “We’ve got some great opportunities to improve there and put ourselves in a good position.”
Offensively, New Orleans has scored only once in the first quarter through eight weeks, with that lone first-quarter touchdown coming in Week 3 against the Raiders. Moore said the Saints need to find a way to get going earlier, while also noting that several games have begun with them deferring after the opening coin toss.
“Obviously I’m going to spend a lot of time focused on how we can find a way to score points,” Moore said. “We’ve been able to defer a number of times to start the game. We’ve had a few instances like this past game where we’ve had some success, we’ve moved the ball and then we’ve just got stalled out as the drive has progressed.”
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