Things can’t get any worse for the Carolina Panthers, right? Right?
Well, they did on Monday morning—less than 24 hours after what may have been the most embarrassing season-opening performance in franchise history.
As if losing by 37 points to the New Orleans Saints wasn’t enough, the team may have also lost their best player for the rest of 2024—defensive tackle Derrick Brown. The Pro Bowler, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, sustained a “potentially season-ending” knee injury during the defeat, a setback that will require surgery on the 26-year-old’s meniscus.
Brown is coming off his best pro campaign, one in which he set an NFL single-season record for most tackles by a defensive lineman (103). His efforts not only earned him the first all-star nod of his career, but also helped him secure a four-year, $96 million extension from the organization earlier this offseason.
And, understandably so, Panthers fans are continuing to feel the hurt of this nightmarish start . . .
Can’t imagine a worse start to your season that getting blown out in all 3 phases by your division rival, your No. 1 overall QB struggling, and your best defensive player potentially being out for the season IN ONE GAME
— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌🏽 (@PanthersAnalyst) September 9, 2024
😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
It might be a wrap y’all
We just lost our best player for the season — how bruh? https://t.co/E1klURbvap
— Panthers Culture 🥷🏽 (@PanthersCulture) September 9, 2024
What a start to the season. I hate it here man 😭 https://t.co/kYF2GVTeJs
— 𓃮 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚 𓃮 (@CPPfanfromtheD) September 9, 2024
The Football Gods be like:
Let's start their season with:
1: A 60 yard TD pass on their best cornerback.
2: An interception on Bryce Young's first game of the season
3: Bryce Young's worst game as a pro
4: A 4 burgerAnything else:
"Oh yeah Derrick Brown": pic.twitter.com/P4xYjhcoJO
— The 4 Man Rush (@4ourmanrush) September 9, 2024
Pack it up folks https://t.co/J6nGWIUakN
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) September 9, 2024
The hits just keep coming. Wake me up from this nightmare. https://t.co/cGqooX9Msg
— Panthers On Tap (@PanthersOnTap) September 9, 2024