Brown in Week 1 against the Saints sustained an injury to his meniscus. He’ll require surgery and could be out for much of the season. It’s a brutal blow to a Carolina defense that was shredded by Derek Carr and the Saints on opening day. Without Brown, the Panthers almost certainly have the NFL’s worst pass rush.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Brown — who had one year remaining on his contract — will get around $63 million in guarantees with the new deal. The seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown, 25, set an NFL record for defensive lineman with 103 tackles in 2023; his missed tackle rate was among the league’s lowest among defensive linemen. He has functioned as a run stuffer in the Carolina defense. Pro Football Focus graded Brown as last year’s No. 2 defensive lineman behind Quinnen Williams.

Brown is one of two Panthers players whose fifth-year options are nearing a decision deadline -- the other being cornerback C.J. Henderson. Since being selected by the Panthers with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown has started 46 games, totaling 142 tackles, 21 TFLs, and six sacks. Brown will earn a guaranteed base salary of $11.66 million in 2024 and will hit free agency at the start of 2025.

"I'm fine," Brown said after the game. "Not a problem. I could have gone back in." Brown may be limited in practice but the Panthers look to have avoided a serious injury. The 24-year-old remains on track for Week 1.