Carolina Panthers star defender suffers potential season-ending injury in Week 1

The brutal start to the Carolina Panthers’ season just got exponentially worse. A day after getting blown out by the New Orleans Saints 47-10, the Panthers have learned they might lose their top defensive player for the season.

NFL Network insider Tom Pellisero reports defensive lineman Derrick Brown suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury. The Pro Bowler will soon be going under the knife to get surgery on his meniscus.

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The Panthers will know more about Brown’s timeline once the surgery is completed.

Brown’s injury is an enormous loss for the Panthers. He was the lone bright spot in a porous Panthers defense, which Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson ranks last in the NFL .

Related: 2025 NFL Draft order, Carolina Panthers draft picks 2025

The 26-year-old Brown signed a four-year extension worth $96 million in the offseason after making his first Pro Bowl last season. Brown recorded 103 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 2023.

The contract included $63 million guaranteed.

It appears it’s going to be a long season for the Panthers as Bryce Young, who was selected No. 1 overall in 2023, had another game to forget. Young threw for 161 yards and tossed two interceptions in the Panthers’ loss. He had a paltry 32.8 quarterback rating.

Related: NFL QB rankings, see where Bryce Young lands

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