Three takeaways from Friday, including an element of mystery

CHARLOTTE — Panthers head coach Dave Canales knows he's entering this week with a possibly small but still-rare edge — mystery.

After firing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero last week, the Panthers are about to play their first game under interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash.

So while the Broncos can watch film of the Panthers this season, or the Jaguars from 2016-20 (when Wash was coordinator there), there's still an element of the unknown.

Canales said it was similar to the quandary he faces when injuries force teams to play backup quarterbacks, because there's usually a high variance between him and the starter.

"Gosh, it happens on a weekly basis when a team loses a quarterback, and…