Panthers HC Dave Canales said the team is taking it “week to week” with Derrick Brown’s (knee) recovery.

Brown suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in Week 1 of last season and said earlier this offseason that his goal is to be ready for Week 1. How that plays out is anybody’s guess, but it’s clear the Panthers are in no rush to put their star defensive tackle back on the field until he’s at 100 percent. Brown racked up a career-high 103 tackles in 2023 and received a lucrative four-year, $96 million contract last offseason for his efforts. His return, coupled with the additions of top-100 draft picks Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, should go a long way in bolstering a Panthers defense that finished dead last in points and yards allowed last season.