The Carolina Panthers report to 2025 training camp with a mandate to 'earn it.' All eyes are on Derrick Brown's return and a rebuilt defense.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The air is thick with humidity and anticipation in Spartanburg. Football is officially back. The Carolina Panthers veterans reported for training camp today, joining the rookies who arrived yesterday, and the message from the top was crystal clear. Forget last year's 5-12 finish. Forget the hype. This year, as General Manager Dan Morgan declared, is all about one thing: earning it.
We're going to have to earn it. Nothing is given to you in this league.
If the Panthers are going to climb out of the NFC South cellar, it starts with a defense that hemorrhaged a league-worst 31.4 points per game last season. The front office clearly agreed, bringing in a host of new faces to bolster the unit. The key, however, might be a returning one. All of Spartanburg will hold its breath watching defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is back on the field after a devastating knee injury cut his 2024 season short in Week 1. His health is paramount. Surrounding him are new additions like linemen Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III, pass rusher Patrick Jones II, and safety Tre'von Moehrig, all tasked with creating a formidable front. Keep an eye on rookies Nic Scourton and Lathan Ransom, who are expected to push for immediate playing time.
The competition isn't just on defense. Several key spots are up for grabs. On special teams, a fierce battle is brewing for return duties between rookies Jimmy Horn Jr. and Trevor Etienne. Meanwhile, the kicking competition between newcomers Matthew Wright and Ryan Fitzgerald will be scrutinized with every practice rep. Off the field, the team is also making moves. The Panthers announced a new multiyear partnership with Catawba Two Kings Casino, which will see the brand heavily featured at Bank of America Stadium this season. This follows last year's deal with FanDuel, showing the organization is continuing to embrace new revenue streams and fan engagement opportunities.
Morgan's 'earn it' mantra isn't just coach-speak; it's a reflection of reality. Vegas isn't high on the Panthers, listing them at +12000 to win the Super Bowl (a measly 0.8% implied probability) and +370 to win the division. The path is daunting, with the newly confirmed schedule featuring a tough road opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars and challenging home games against the Cowboys, Dolphins, and Bills. While every team starts 0-0 and is technically tied for first place in the division, the Panthers know they are starting from the bottom and have to claw their way up.
The pieces are on the board, the message has been delivered, and the work begins now. Can a healthy Derrick Brown anchor a revamped defense? Can one of the new kickers provide stability? Can this team forge an identity built on grit and competition? The odds are stacked against them, but the journey to earn respect in the NFC starts today, one practice at a time, with the season opener in Jacksonville looming as the first major test.
