How bad is Panthers’ run defense? Falcons’ Bijan Robinson could feast on historic woes
The Carolina Panthers’ run defense is on fire, but not in a good way.
This season’s stretch of run-stopping — or lack thereof — has been more like a funeral pyre of futility than a hot streak of excellence. To put it bluntly, the Panthers are historically bad at stopping the run, with no signs of potential improvement coming in Week 18.
Over the past five weeks, the run defense has given up 200 or more rushing yards in each game for a total of 1,061 yards. The unit has surrendered 180 or more rushing yards in 10 of the team’s first 16 games, and opponents have eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground in seven of those bouts.
The defense has missed two of its best players, defensive end Derrick Brown and linebacker Shaq Thompson, since the first month of the season. Promising rookie linebacker Trevin Wallace and rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade have recently joined Brown and Thompson on the injured reserve list. And the defensive depth chart was paper-thin to begin with, so the lack of talent within the unit is being highlighted as opposing teams are running freely through huge voids in the defensive front.
With the Atlanta Falcons set to host the Panthers on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the run defense is likely to continue its groan-inducing ways to close out the campaign.
Panthers enter historically awful realm with run defense
With 2,830 rushing yards allowed through 16 games, the Panthers rank 11th on the all-time run-defense disaster list.
Only one team — the 2022 Houston Texans — has allowed more rushing yards in a 17-game season (2,894), according to StatMuse. But the Panthers, given their recent stretch of run-game folly, are in position to not only surpass that Texans squad’s ineptitude, but actually put the unit in historically hideous range.
Only three teams have given up 3,000 rushing yards in a season, according to StatMuse. The 1978 Buffalo Bills hold the record with 3,228 rushing yards allowed in 16 games.
The Panthers, barring an all-time performance from Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier on Sunday, won’t exceed that mark. But if the Falcons run for 170 or more yards Sunday, the Panthers will enter the zone of doom as the fourth squad to surrender 3,000 rushing yards in a campaign.
The Panthers will need to curb the recent 200-yard streak to avoid that embarrassing endeavor.
Robinson, who ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers in Week 6, will be looking to will Atlanta to the playoffs with a win. While the Panthers’ 48-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 hurt the Falcons’ chances, especially after Atlanta dropped its own matchup against the Washington Commanders in overtime, the Raheem Morris-led squad still has some hope.
Robinson is essentially that beacon of hope with rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. guiding the offense. Robinson is fourth in the league with 1,286 rushing yards entering Week 18, and he could have himself a swell outing against Ejiro Evero’s defense in the regular-season finale.
History beckons, and the Panthers’ struggling run defense is primed for failure.
The Panthers will address the front seven, and really, the overall defense, this offseason in free agency and the draft. But for right now, they’re taking their noticeable lumps without key contributors.
While Evero’s name is stamped on the defense’s futility, it’s fair to acknowledge that he’s working without legitimate aces in his deck of cards. General Manager Dan Morgan worked extensively to fix the plodding offense this offseason, which came, in some respects, at the cost of Evero’s unit.
Morgan added a few of Evero’s former pupils to make up for the big-name departures of Brian Burns, Donte Jackson, Frankie Luvu and Vonn Bell. But outside of A’Shawn Robinson, the group of former Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos defenders hasn’t really situated the unit.
Evero has one year left on his coordinator contract in Carolina. If the Panthers think that the talent is the issue — and not the coordinator’s often-criticized 3-4 scheme — they need to put their money where their mind is.
Morgan, who was aggressive last offseason with fixing the offense line, needs to bring the same dedicated energy to the side of the ball on which he once played.
RB Miles Sanders returns to Panthers practice
Miles Sanders’ first game as a Carolina Panther took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2023. His next game could also take place in downtown Atlanta on Sunday.
Sanders (ankle) had his 21-day practice window on injured reserve activated Wednesday. He had been sidelined with a high ankle sprain for the past six weeks.
“Just progressing, taking it day by day, trying to get back to it,” Sanders said Wednesday.
The former Pro Bowl running back has had a forgettable two-year stint in Carolina, dating back to a career-worst campaign in 2023. Sanders has just 571 rushing yards, 252 receiving yards and two total touchdowns in 26 games as a Panthers running back.
Sanders has two years left on the four-year, $25.3 million deal he signed in 2023. However, the Panthers could release him for a cap savings of $5.23 million this coming offseason. The Panthers would only receive a dead-money penalty of $2.9 million for releasing Sanders, but no new money is guaranteed to the running back.
So, Sanders, if he is active Sunday, has a lot to play for against Atlanta. He could be auditioning to keep his gig in Carolina or to get a look from another team next offseason.
“It’s not for sure yet, just trying to take it day by day, just trying to see how it feels,” Sanders said about Week 18. “It was just a walk-through today. Get some full-speed rest tomorrow and just to see how it really feels, make sure I’m confident enough to go out there. Just going to take it day by day, though.”
With Jonathon Brooks sidelined with another ACL surgery, Sanders could earn his way back into Carolina’s plans, even if that comes with a potential pay cut in the offseason.
The Panthers produced just 39 rushing yards in the loss to Tampa Bay last week. Having Sanders in the lineup could help QB Bryce Young and the offense operate a bit more efficiently against Atlanta.
The Panthers also have Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone, and wideout-turned-running back Velus Jones Jr. to use at the position.
“For us, it’s about going out there, being competitive, playing our best brand of football, and Miles gives us a chance to do that,” head coach Dave Canales said. “So for me, even just him being out there in the huddle, talking to the guys and the guys kind of responding with smiles to see him out there again, with us, doing it. It’s really cool for the guys to be able to do this again.”
Injury report: The latest on Jaycee Horn, Josey Jewell
Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton (knee) returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. However, cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) and linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion) remained sidelined after missing the matchup against Tampa Bay in Week 17.
Right guard Robert Hunt (knee) and defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (neck) were also sidelined.
Did not participate: OLB Amare Barno (shoulder), CB Jaycee Horn (hip), G Robert Hunt (knee), LB Josey Jewell (concussion), DB Lonnie Johnson (shoulder/neck), CB Mike Jackson (rest), DE A’Shawn Robinson (neck), OLB DJ Wonnum (rest)
Limited participation: RT Taylor Moton (knee)
Full participation: RB Miles Sanders (ankle/IR), WR Xavier Legette (hip/wrist)
Quick hits
▪ The 2025 Duke’s Mayo Bowl will host the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies at 7 p.m. Friday at Bank of America Stadium. While there aren’t any former Minnesota players on the Panthers’ roster, Carolina has four players who used to suit up for Virginia Tech: OLB Amare Barno, RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Caleb Farley and OT Yosh Nijman.
▪ Since returning to the lineup in Week 8, Young has produced 15 total touchdowns and just seven total turnovers. He has thrown 12 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He’s also rushed for three scores with just one fumble lost.
▪ Long snapper JJ Jansen, 38, will extend his franchise record for games played to 260 on Sunday. Jansen, who was acquired in a trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2009, has never missed a game for Carolina, and has become the longest mainstay in team history. He is set to become a free agent in March.
▪ Wide receiver Adam Thielen has 64 career receiving touchdowns. That total ranks fourth overall in NFL history among undrafted players. He needs two receiving touchdowns to surpass two-time Super Bowl champion Gary Clark for third all-time among undrafted players.
This story was originally published January 1, 2025 at 3:54 PM.
