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Panthers Changes in the Middle of Defense Paying Big Dividends Already
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- Panthers Changes in the Middle of Defense Paying Big Dividends Already
The Carolina Panthers have seen a massive swing from Week 1 to Week 2.
In Week 1, the defense was terrible- there's no other way to put it. The unit was gashed by the Chicago Bears and put forth one of the worst defensive performances in franchise history. It seemed impossible for the unit to play that poorly again, but they actually played great in Week 2 in a complete reversal.
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A big reason for the reversal is linebacker Devin Lloyd . Lloyd didn't put his best foot forward in Week 1, but he was a complete game-changer in Week 2. Lloyd racked up nine tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions, two tackles for loss, and one sack.
That performance only proves that the Panthers were wise to bring Lloyd in. Bobby Okereke , who was just added before Week 1 , has also been a net positive so far. It becomes even more obvious that these additions were the right move when you compare them to last year's linebackers.
Lloyd, Okereke Seriously Outplaying 2025 Linebackers
Sep 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) runs after making a catch as Carolina Panthers linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) tackles during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
ESPN's Mike Kaye put into perspective just how different the linebacker production is from 2025 to now.
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In 2025, linebackers Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom finished with a combined four sacks, 12 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one interception. That was in 12 games for Wallace and 15 for Rozeboom.
In just two games in 2026, Lloyd and Okereke have combined for one sack, three tackles for loss, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and three interceptions. So, the two veteran additions have already been more impactful as pass defenders and almost as impactful as pass rushers.
It's also hard to fully quantify how impactful Lloyd and Okereke are because they have so much starting experience and are vocal leaders in the locker room. Lloyd wears the green dot, so he's calling the shots on defense even if he doesn't impact every play directly.
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It will be interesting to see how Lloyd and Okereke build off this performance. If the middle of the defense is locked down, it makes the lives of the rest of the defense much easier.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
