In the two seasons since the Panthers used a first-round pick on linebacker Shaq Thompson, he’s played less than 50 percent of possible defensive snaps. That’s mostly because Thomas Davis refuses to give into Father Time.
But now it’s time for Carolina’s new defensive coordinator to find a solution – even if it includes continuing to plan for life without the heart and soul of the defense.
“With Thomas Davis getting up there in age and years, we've got to cut down on his reps,” Steve Wilks said Monday. “So there will be times where Shaq is going to be in, and we're going to try to relieve Thomas to give him some rest.