National Football League

Panthers DT Derrick Brown sidelined with season-ending knee injury

Updated Sep. 10, 2024 4:26 p.m. ET

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Fresh off a 47-10 blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, the Carolina Panthers got more bad news. 

Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who signed a four-year, $96 million extension this offseason, has been placed on injured reserve and will now miss the remainder of the season, the team announced Tuesday. Brown will also undergo surgery on the knee he injured Sunday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Brown, the team's first-round pick in 2020 out of Auburn, is arguably the best player on a Panthers team looking to start fresh in its rebuild behind second-year quarterback Bryce Young and new head coach Dave Canales. 

His loss is a huge blow to a defense that struggled on Sunday, allowing New Orleans to score on its first nine possessions. Canales told the media Tuesday that Brown is "one of our best players. That's big shoes to fill."

"But at the same time," he added, "we've got players in there, I want them to know and be encouraged."

Brown, 26, is coming off a breakout 2023 season in which he set an NFL record for tackles by a defensive lineman (103).

Brown, who was selected as one of the team’s defensive captains last week, played 60 of the team’s 66 snaps on defense.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL - Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints - 09/08/2024