General manager Dan Morgan made fixing the NFL’s worst run defense his top priority in the offseason after the Carolina Panthers surrendered more than 3,000 rushing yards in 2024. New faces were added in the trenches, with the hope that physicality and depth would finally stop opponents from pushing them around.
On paper, the alterations looked like progress. But on the field in Week 1, they looked practically nonexistent.
In their heavy loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the same flaw that haunted them a year ago came roaring back. Liam Coen's squad dominated at will on the ground, controlling the tempo, staying ahead of the chains, and ultimately putting the game out of reach without needing to lean too heavily on quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s arm.