Two Growls One Roar: A Carolina Panthers Podcast

The Carolina Panthers are 3-3 and still on top of the NFC South, but Sunday's 43-13 home loss to Tampa Bay left a lot of damage, and there are only three days to fix it before Thursday Night Football at Lambeau Field.On today's TGOR Podcast, we start with the biggest news of the day: veteran right tackle Taylor Moton is headed to injured reserve. Moton suffered a fractured fibula and ankle ligament damage against the Bucs and will have season-ending surgery, just two games after returning from the blood clots that kept him out until Week 6. Rookie Monroe Freeling steps back in at right tackle, where he started the first four games of the year.Then we dig into a run defense that fell apart again. Tampa Bay ran it 49 times for 258 yards, tying the most rushing attempts ever allowed by Carolina, with 17 rushing first downs and 171 yards before contact. The Bucs barely needed Baker Mayfield, who threw just 11 passes. Two weeks after holding Detroit and Philadelphia to 81 combined rushing yards, the Panthers now allow 153.2 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL. Is it scheme, personnel, or both?Next is the injury report, and it is long for a short week. Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), Akayleb Evans (triceps/knee), Damien Lewis (knee), Torricelli Simpkins III (ankle) and Bobby Brown III (hand) did not practice Monday. With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on IR, Carolina has only two healthy cornerbacks on the 53-man roster: Will Lee III and Chau Smith-Wade. We go through the practice-squad options Dave Canales named and separate fact from fan-site speculation about adding a corner.Our Packers preview breaks down a Green Bay team that just had a three-game win streak snapped on a walk-off field goal in Detroit and now sits last in the NFC North at 4-3. The Packers own the NFL's worst rushing attack at 59.9 yards per game, they're still without Micah Parsons, and they've lost linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin. We look at the matchups that decide this one: Josh Jacobs against Carolina's front, Tetairoa McMillan against the Green Bay secondary, and Rasheed Walker against his former team. Green Bay opened as a 3.5-point favorite, and Carolina won 16-13 at Lambeau last November.We wrap with an NFC South review. Atlanta knocked off the previously unbeaten 49ers, the Bucs climbed to 2-5, the Saints lost in Paris, and the Falcons and Bucs meet this weekend. A win Thursday keeps the Panthers alone in first no matter what happens in Tampa.Your turn: Does Carolina's run defense hold up against the NFL's worst run game, or does Josh Jacobs finally break loose Thursday? Tell us in the comments.Panthers at Packers: Thursday, Oct. 29, 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video.Follow @TGORPODCAST and visit twogrowlsoneroar.com for daily Carolina Panthers coverage. Like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

The first-place Carolina Panthers (3-2, 1-0 NFC South) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5) Sunday at 1:00 PM at Bank of America Stadium, and the big story is in Tampa's quarterback room. Baker Mayfield practiced in full Wednesday and Thursday wearing a padded, metal-reinforced glove on his dislocated right thumb and says he's strong enough to play. Todd Bowles hasn't made it official, but everything points to Baker coming back against his old team.On today's TGOR Podcast we break down the full Week 7 preview. We start with where the Panthers stand after a 25-14 wire-to-wire win in Philadelphia: Bryce Young threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns to Tommy Tremble, Chuba Hubbard ran for 120, and the Panthers set a franchise record with 146 points through five games. We also hit the less fun part, a franchise-record 149 penalty yards.Then it's the schedule and the next five games, including a short week with Thursday night at Lambeau right after this one, plus the NFC South standings and the rest of the division's Week 7 slate: Saints vs Steelers in Paris and the undefeated 49ers at Atlanta.The Thursday injury report: Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) and Thomas Incoom (calf) didn't practice and Phillips is expected to miss Sunday. For Tampa, Emeka Egbuka is in concussion protocol, Luke Goedeke hasn't practiced, and Bucky Irving was limited. The Bucs placed linebacker Christian Rozeboom on injured reserve and activated 6-foot-3 receiver David Sills V, who could make his Bucs debut in Charlotte.We go through the tale of the tape with the numbers: the Panthers' No. 1 passing offense against a Tampa offense that ranks near the bottom in scoring and passing, and Carolina's league-worst run defense against Bucky Irving. We go into the film room on last week, break down the key matchups including the interior line against Vita Vea, and give you three reasons the Panthers win and three reasons they lose. We close with a memory lane trip to 2003, when a blocked extra point at Tampa sparked a Super Bowl run.Baker's back. Does that change your pick, or do the Panthers go 4-2 regardless? Drop your score prediction in the comments.Subscribe to Two Growls One Roar for daily Panthers coverage, and follow @TGORPODCAST on X. More at twogrowlsoneroar.com. Keep Pounding.

The Carolina Panthers are 3-2, alone atop the NFC South, and coming off a 25-14 road win in Philadelphia. On today's TGOR Podcast we dig into what's driving this team and what could trip it up.Segment 1: The winning formula. ESPN's Mike Kaye points out the Panthers average a league-worst 26.2 rushing yards in the first half and the second-best 82.6 in the second half. Bryce Young builds the lead through the air, then Chuba Hubbard grinds it out. Against the Eagles, Chuba had 24 yards at halftime and finished with 120 on 28 carries. Bryce is now one of only six quarterbacks in NFL history with 280+ yards, a touchdown and one or fewer interceptions in each of his team's first five games. Is it sustainable?Segment 2: Canales unfiltered. We break down Dave Canales on Panther Talk: Bryce's trust in TMac, Jalen Coker and the tight ends, Tommy Tremble's two-touchdown day, how 12, 13 and even 14 personnel (with OT Stone Forsythe as the fourth tight end) are shaping the offense, and why he's got rookie corner Will Lee III's back.Segment 3: The third phase. Trevor Etienne returned from IR and averaged 14.2 yards per punt return, up from 8.2 last season. Tre Tyus got a hand on a punt late in the fourth. JJ Jansen set the NFL record for games played by a long snapper. And Ryan Fitzgerald: 11-for-11 on field goals, but 11-for-15 on extra points with three misses wide right. Real problem or overblown?Segment 4: Moves and Ickey watch. The Panthers waived undrafted rookie OT Albert Reese, and Tre Tyus is reportedly being signed from the practice squad to fill the spot. With Taylor Moton back, Rasheed Walker playing his best football and Monroe Freeling working back from a knee injury, the tackle room is crowded. Then Canales brought up Ikem Ekwonu on his own and told fans to "stay tuned." We sort out what's fact and what's speculation.Segment 5: Bucs on deck. Tampa Bay (1-5) visits Charlotte Sunday at 1:00 for its first division game. Baker Mayfield is expected to practice Wednesday after a thumb injury, rookie Jalon Daniels has started the last three games, and the Bucs own the NFL's second-best run defense. That's a direct test of Carolina's second-half Chuba plan, with a Thursday night trip to Green Bay right after.Your turn: Fitzgerald is 11-for-11 on field goals and 11-for-15 on extra points. Worried or overblown? Tell us in the comments.Follow TGOR on X at @TGORPODCAST and read more at twogrowlsoneroar.com. Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a Panthers episode. Keep Pounding.

The Carolina Panthers came out of the bye and went into Lincoln Financial Field and took care of business, beating the Philadelphia Eagles 25-14 to move to 3-2 for the first time since 2021. On today's Two Growls One Roar podcast, we break down every storyline from the win.We start with the ground game. Chuba Hubbard carried 28 times for 120 yards and a touchdown, and he was the engine of the drive of the day: 14 plays, 92 yards and 7:43 off the clock, kept alive by a 19-yard run on fourth-and-1 before Hubbard punched it in from a yard out. Carolina ran it 33 times as a team and closed the game with a nine-play drive that drained the final 4:26.Then it's Tommy Tremble's day. The tight end caught four passes for 46 yards and both of Carolina's touchdown passes, from 12 and 19 yards, the first multi-touchdown game of his career. We talk about the Rocky Balboa celebration in Philly, Jalen Coker's praise for him after the game, and the taunting flag that cost the Panthers an extra point.Bryce Young threw for 281 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions with a 91.9 passer rating. The completion rate was just 20 of 39, so we debate it: was this a clean, winning game or did the offense leave points on the field? We also hit the biggest throw of the day, a 32-yarder to Jalen Coker on third-and-8 from the Panthers' own 10, plus Coker's 97 yards in his return and Tetairoa McMillan's six catches for 86.On defense, Carolina held the Eagles to 35 rushing yards on 13 carries and 222 total yards. Bobby Okereke led the way with eight tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, with Devin Lloyd, Tre'von Moehrig and Jaelan Phillips also getting to Tanner McKee, who started with Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley out. Philly's last drive ended on downs. We also note Phillips aggravating his hamstring.Finally, the flag problem. The Panthers were penalized 13 times for 149 yards, including intentional grounding, two delays of game and the taunting call. Ryan Fitzgerald was perfect on field goals from 47 and 52, but between a failed two-point try and a missed extra point, points were left out there. With Tampa Bay coming to Charlotte next Sunday, that has to get cleaned up.Question of the day: who gets your game ball, Chuba Hubbard, Tommy Tremble or Bobby Okereke? Drop it in the comments.Subscribe for daily Carolina Panthers coverage and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Follow @TGORPODCAST and visit twogrowlsoneroar.com for more.Chapters and stats are on screen throughout the episode. Keep pounding.

The Carolina Panthers (2-2) come out of the bye in sole possession of first place in the NFC South, and they head to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team (2-3) that has lost three straight games. In this Week 6 preview, we break down everything you need to know before Sunday's 1:00 PM ET kickoff on CBS at Lincoln Financial Field.We start with the biggest storylines. Bryce Young leads the NFL at 317.0 passing yards per game, with 1,268 yards, 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Tetairoa McMillan is coming off a 14-catch, 192-yard game against Detroit. On the other side, Philadelphia lost 27-7 at Chicago, blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to the Rams, and lost 19-17 in London on a 57-yard field goal as time expired.Then we get into the matchups. Carolina's passing offense ranks second in the league in passing yards per game, and Next Gen Stats gives the Panthers the edge in 20 of 24 passing categories against an Eagles defense that ranks 26th in pass yards allowed and 30th in sack rate. But the Panthers allow 5.4 yards per rush, which is last in the league, and Saquon Barkley's hamstring is the biggest variable on the Philadelphia side. We also look at Jalen Hurts, who has almost stopped running by design, and at the Eagles' rebuilt offensive line after Lane Johnson's retirement and the Cam Jurgens trade.In this video:- Storylines and a recap of both teams' seasons- Coaching staffs, including the Eagles' new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion- Current depth charts for both teams- 2026 draft classes and offseason moves, including former Eagles Jaelan Phillips and AJ Dillon now in Carolina- Series history: the Eagles lead 9-4, and Carolina has not won at the Linc since 2018- IR report and this week's injury report- Player stats and defensive leaders- TeamRankings and Next Gen Stats matchup breakdowns- Odds: the Eagles are about 1 to 1.5 point favorites with a total of 41.5 to 42.5- NFC South watch- Three reasons the Panthers win and three reasons they lose- Our score prediction: Panthers 27, Eagles 19Which matchup decides this game, Bryce Young against the Eagles' pass rush or Saquon Barkley against the Panthers' run defense? Let us know in the comments.Follow Two Growls One Roar on X at @TGORPODCAST and on the web at twogrowlsoneroar.com.Two Growls One Roar is your home for Carolina Panthers coverage all season long — subscribe for game previews, recaps, and everything else Panthers football.#KeepPounding

The bye week is over and the Carolina Panthers are back to work at 2-2 and alone in first place in the NFC South. On today's Two Growls One Roar podcast, we break down everything Dave Canales said in his post-bye press conference, track every player who could return, look at a new defensive tackle on the practice squad, dig into the Eagles' injury report, and debate whether Xavier Legette or Ja'Tavion Sanders gets moved before the trade deadline.Canales didn't dodge the standings. The team talked about being alone in first, and he said the goal is to win the division. He also listed what still needs fixing: a run game they can depend on every week, a pass rush that keeps the quarterback contained, cleaner coverage communication and a bigger blitz package. We get into his thoughts on Bryce Young lining up under center, why Philly's defense looks familiar to Carolina's offense, Lee Hunter's growth as a rookie, and why Chuba Hubbard is an "overworker to a fault."Then it's the return tracker. Every team gets eight designations to bring players back from injured reserve, and Trevor Etienne is set to use one this week. Taylor Moton (NFI, blood clots) and Tershawn Wharton (PUP, neck surgery) have both been cleared, and their practice windows open this week. PUP and NFI returns don't count against the eight. We go through who's still on IR, including Jonathon Brooks, Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Xavier Legette, and when each one could realistically be back. Ikem Ekwonu is still working back from a patellar tendon injury. Jaelan Phillips, Monroe Freeling and Jalen Coker are the names to watch for Sunday.Carolina also signed defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. to the practice squad and released DE Anthony Goodlow. Cooper went undrafted out of Tulane and Houston and has been through the Lions, Browns and Dolphins organizations. We talk about why a big interior body makes sense right now.On the other side, the Eagles are 2-3 after three straight losses, including a 19-17 last-second defeat to Jacksonville in London on a 57-yard field goal set up by a long kickoff return. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith have been dealing with hamstring injuries, Jonathan Greenard missed the game with an ankle injury, Will Shipley hurt his foot, and Tank Bigsby is on IR. We look at what that means for Carolina's run defense and game plan.Finally, the trade-deadline debate. The deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10. Xavier Legette is on IR with a knee injury and has been passed on the depth chart, and Ja'Tavion "JT" Sanders was reportedly discussed with other teams before cutdowns. If one of them goes, which one should it be?Drop your answer in the comments: which return matters most in Philly, Moton, Wharton or Etienne?Follow @TGORPODCAST and visit twogrowlsoneroar.com for more Panthers coverage. Keep Pounding.

The Carolina Panthers hit the bye at 2-2, and for once the offense is the reason for optimism. On today's Two Growls One Roar podcast, we hand out a bye-week report card, walk through every key injury before the trip to Philadelphia, sort real reporting from speculation in the cornerback trade rumors, and scout a struggling Eagles team.Under new play caller Brad Idzik, Carolina went from 26th in passing last season to first in the NFL at 301.3 yards per game, and ranks fourth in both scoring (30.3 points per game) and total offense. Bryce Young leads the league with 1,268 passing yards and is on pace for nearly 5,400 yards and 38 touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan put up career highs of 14 catches, 192 yards and two touchdowns in the 32-26 Sunday Night Football win over Detroit, and Chuba Hubbard added 122 rushing yards and two scores. The defense gave up 412 passing yards to Jared Goff but made two fourth-down stops to close it out.Then the injury board. Trevor Etienne should be practicing after the bye, and Damien Lewis is expected back. Jaelan Phillips and Monroe Freeling are both listed as hopeful for Philadelphia. Taylor Moton and Tershawn Wharton are still waiting on medical clearance, and Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are on injured reserve for roughly eight weeks. Xavier Legette is also on IR.That cornerback hole has the rumor mill spinning ahead of the November trade deadline. We go through the names being floated, make clear which ones are speculation, and talk about whether Dan Morgan should buy. We also touch on the Bryce Young contract, after the team tabled extension talks until after the season.Next up is Philadelphia on October 18. The Eagles are 2-2, blew a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead to the Rams, went 0-for-12 on third downs in that game, and are dealing with injuries to Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson and more. They play Jacksonville in London this Sunday before hosting Carolina. After that, the Panthers host the 0-4 Buccaneers and go to Green Bay on a short week.We close with an NFC South review. Carolina and Atlanta are tied at 2-2, with the Panthers holding the head-to-head after the 34-3 win. The Falcons rolled the Saints 45-24 on Monday night, New Orleans sits at 1-3, and Tampa Bay is 0-4 for the first time since 2013 with Baker Mayfield out and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels starting.Question of the day: is this Panthers team a buyer at the trade deadline? Tell us in the comments.Subscribe for daily Panthers coverage and follow @TGORPODCAST on X. More at twogrowlsoneroar.com. Two Growls One Roar is on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Carolina Panthers are on their Week 5 bye, but Dan Morgan's phone isn't. On today's episode of Two Growls One Roar, we break down every roster move, every tryout, and the trade targets that make sense at cornerback and running back before Week 6 in Philadelphia.We start with the transaction wire. The Panthers waived RB Tre Tyus and released OLB Jeremiah Moon, CB Robert Rochell and OL Isaia Glass from the practice squad. Coming in: CB Marco Wilson, a veteran with 37 career starts, and OLB Nic Hampton, a familiar face from this year's camp. With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both on injured reserve, the Wilson signing tells you exactly where the concern is.Then we run through the full tryout list. TE Devin Culp, LB Cade Denhoff, TE Rivaldo Fairweather (the best football name in the league?), DB Jalen Kimber, LB Dasan McCullough, DB Kobee Minor, former Gamecocks TE Joshua Simon, and DB Ambry Thomas all came through Charlotte. Four of the nine tryouts were defensive backs. That's not a coincidence.Next up is the cornerback trade board. Joey Porter Jr. is off the market after Pittsburgh sent him to Dallas, so who's left? We make the case for a Donte Jackson homecoming from the Chargers. He's a former Panther, he's on an expiring deal, and he's coming off a four-interception season. We also look at Keisean Nixon, Kristian Fulton, Chidobe Awuzie, Kelee Ringo and the free agent route with Marshon Lattimore and Tre'Davious White.Then the running back debate. Dave Canales says Trevor Etienne will "for sure" be back after the bye, and a lot of fans want to cross RB off the shopping list. Not so fast. With Jonathon Brooks recovering from core muscle surgery and Tyus gone, Chuba Hubbard is carrying the load. Is Titans RB Tony Pollard, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher on an expiring deal, the insurance policy this team needs for a playoff push? We also run through other names floated in deadline chatter.Finally, the medical waiting room. Taylor Moton (blood clot) and Turk Wharton (neck) both need medical clearance before they return, though Moton is trending the right way. Canales is hopeful on Jaelan Phillips and Monroe Freeling for Philly. We also cover the rest of the injury report, including Ikem Ekwonu's PUP timeline.The NFL trade deadline is November 10. Should the Panthers make a move now, and should it be a corner or a running back? Let us know in the comments.

For the first time since 2016, the Carolina Panthers are on Sunday Night Football, and they're hosting one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. The Detroit Lions (2-1) come to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, October 4 at 8:20 PM ET on NBC, and the timing couldn't be worse for Carolina's secondary.In this Week 4 game preview, we break down everything you need to know before kickoff. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson both went down in the 21-18 loss in Cleveland, and both are now on injured reserve with a rough eight-week timeline. That leaves rookie Will Lee III, Akayleb Evans and Chau Smith-Wade holding down the corner spots against Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta. The Lions have scored exactly 31 points in every game this season.On the other side, Bryce Young leads the NFL's top passing offense at nearly 300 yards per game. He threw for 361 yards against Chicago and three more touchdowns in the 34-3 beatdown of Atlanta. The catch: Carolina's offensive line has allowed more pressure than anyone in football, and Detroit's pass rush already has 12 sacks. With Damien Lewis out and Monroe Freeling in the concussion protocol, protection is the storyline nobody wants to talk about but everybody needs to.Then there's Jahmyr Gibbs. Six touchdowns in three games, 463 scrimmage yards, and a habit of turning one missed tackle into six points. If the Panthers can't keep him in check, Detroit never has to force anything against the backup corners.We cover:The cornerback crisis and what it means for Carolina's pass defenseBryce Young's primetime moment and the pass protection problemHow to slow down Jahmyr GibbsThe three matchups that decide this gameThe full Panthers injury reportPlayers to watch on both sidesFour keys to a Panthers winOur final score predictionVegas has Detroit as a 3.5-point favorite with the total at 50.5. Is this a trap game for the Lions, or does the injury report finally catch up with Carolina? Drop your score prediction in the comments. We read every one.Two Growls One Roar is fan-first Carolina Panthers coverage, plus the Charlotte Hornets and South Carolina Gamecocks. We're honest when it's good, honest when it hurts, and we cope together either way. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" breakdown after the game Monday.

The Carolina Panthers are 1-2 and banged up heading into Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions, and Two Growls One Roar breaks down everything that moved at Panthers HQ this week.Two days after a 21-18 loss in Cleveland, the injury news came fast. Starting left guard Damien Lewis has a UCL injury in his elbow and is expected to miss a few weeks, including the Lions game. He's getting a second opinion, and the Week 5 bye could keep his absence to one game. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn suffered what Dave Canales called a significant quad injury and will miss time, with a clearer timeline expected after more tests. Cornerback Mike Jackson's status is still unknown, and Jalen Coker also left Sunday's game.So who steps in? We project Corey Bullock at left guard, since he replaced Lewis in Cleveland and is the listed interior backup, with newly promoted Torricelli Simpkins III behind him. At corner, Will Lee III is Horn's listed backup and our projected starter. If Mike Jackson can't go, Chau Smith-Wade starts on the other side, and Canales hinted at possible practice squad call-ups in the secondary.We also go through Tuesday's transactions. The Panthers signed Simpkins, a Charlotte native, from the practice squad and waived linebacker Maema Njongmeta, who forced a fumble in Cleveland. Cam Gill returns to the practice squad for his third stint in about three months, Isaia Glass is back, and guard Chandler Zavala was released. That comes a day after veteran guard Saahdiq Charles rejoined the practice squad, which means three guard moves in 48 hours.On the positive side, Bryce Young is expected to play despite taking a cleat to the lower body in Cleveland. He finished that game with 291 yards and a touchdown and leads the NFL in passing yards through three weeks. Devin Lloyd, the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his two-interception game in Atlanta, says he's ready to return from his calf injury. Nick Scott's rib injury looks playable, and Xavier Legette is day-to-day with a knee issue.We walk through the full Week 4 depth chart position by position, including special teams, and flag who to watch on Wednesday's injury report.Then it's the Roar Mailbag. We answer your questions on:Who covers Detroit with the secondary this beat upWhether it's time to panic about the offensive lineHow hurt Bryce Young really isWhy Tetairoa McMillan was quiet against the Browns, and how the tight ends stepped upWhether a 1-2 start means the season is slippingThe under-the-radar player to watch Sunday nightSubscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss a breakdown. Drop your mailbag questions in the comments for next week's show. Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and read more at twogrowlsoneroar.com.

We had this one. With 4:25 left in Cleveland, the Carolina Panthers led 18-13 and had about an 83% chance to win. Less than two minutes later, Akayleb Evans picked off Deshaun Watson in the end zone to seal it… until a roughing-the-passer flag on Bobby Okereke wiped it out. Three plays later, Harold Fannin Jr. scored his second touchdown, Watson hit Denzel Boston for two, and the Browns walked off 21-18 winners. Carolina falls to 1-2.The worst part? The Panthers won almost every stat that usually decides games. They out-gained Cleveland 360 to 259, won first downs 24 to 17, and Ryan Fitzgerald went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 53-yarder. None of it mattered, because the game came down to the margins, exactly like Dave Canales said.In this Two Growls One Roar postgame breakdown, we cover:🔹 The win probability cliff: from 83% to zero in the final four minutes🔹 Red zone failures: four deep drives, one touchdown🔹 0-for-3 on fourth down, including the 4th-and-1 at our own 40 that handed Cleveland a touchdown🔹 The failed two-point try that changed the math late🔹 The Okereke roughing call, and Jaelan Phillips wondering if Watson sold it🔹 Bryce Young under a 51% pressure rate, with Mason Graham and Jared Verse living in the backfield🔹 A tale of two halves: Chuba Hubbard at 1.8 yards per carry in the first half and 7.1 in the second🔹 Tight ends carrying the passing game while Tetairoa McMillan was held to 2 catches🔹 A defense that deserved better: zero Browns first downs in the third quarter🔹 Maema Njongmeta's forced fumble on the re-kickWe also go through the full injury picture. That includes the new injuries to Jaycee Horn (quad), Mike Jackson (groin), and Jalen Coker (quad), plus Bryce playing through a lower-body issue. Then there's everyone already on the shelf: Devin Lloyd, Claudin Cherelus, Nick Scott, Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks, Ikem Ekwonu, and Taylor Moton. The cornerback room could be in real trouble heading into next week.Up next is the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football, October 4 at Bank of America Stadium. It's Carolina's first SNF game since 2016 and the last game before the Week 5 bye. Jahmyr Gibbs just dropped three touchdowns on the Jets, but the Lions have already blown two big leads at home this season. We break down what Carolina has to fix to get to 2-2 heading into the bye.Were we robbed, or did the Panthers beat themselves? Drop your take in the comments. 👇

The Panthers are coming off a 34-3 beatdown in Atlanta, and the Wednesday news cycle still found a way to punch us in the stomach. Two Growls One Roar breaks down everything from the Week 3 pressers with Dave Canales, Bryce Young, Devin Lloyd, Tetairoa McMillan, AJ Dillon, Mike Jackson, and Zakee Wheatley before Sunday's trip to Cleveland.We start with the lead story. Jonathon Brooks has a significant groin injury, will have surgery, and is headed to IR with a rough six-to-eight-week window. It's brutal for a guy who was finally ramping back up. Canales shared what he told Brooks, and Bryce talked about the human side of watching a teammate go down again.That reshapes the running back room. Chuba Hubbard still carries the load, AJ Dillon gets a bigger role, and practice squad back Tre Tyus is confirmed to play. Canales wants three backs active. Austin Ekeler worked out Wednesday, and per Mike Kaye the workout went well, but he did not sign. Former Panthers OLB Nick Hampton also visited. AJ Dillon's reaction to the Ekeler workout is the best part of the day: they're friends, Ekeler has been on his podcast, and fans constantly mix up the "twins" online.Then the injury report, where everyone is "day-to-day." Devin Lloyd's calf flared up after the adrenaline wore off in Atlanta. Jalen Coker is managing the ankle again. Phillips missed practice with a back issue. Canales wouldn't say who's out Sunday, and he's keeping the return game plan under wraps.Speaking of Lloyd, we relive one of the best linebacker games you'll ever see: two interceptions, a one-handed pick-six, a sack, nine tackles, and NFC Defensive Player of the Week. Mike Jackson says Lloyd stole his pick. Lloyd also tells stories about his high school game against East Lake and a pre-draft phone call with Luke Kuechly.On offense, Carolina is the league's No. 1 passing offense, and Bryce Young doesn't care. "It'll be zero to zero when we start." We get into year three in the system, big-bodied receivers like Xavier Legette and Darren Waller, T-Mac and Coker both sitting in the top 10 in receiving, and why Canales calls plays from the sideline instead of the booth.Then we scout Cleveland. Todd Monken wants to run the ball and hit play-action, and Deshaun Watson can still hurt you with his legs. The Browns have two young receivers who can take the top off. Their defense is fast, led by Mason Graham, Jared Verse, and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger. McMillan could line up against his former high school teammate Mason Graham.Plus rookie watch on Zakee Wheatley, and our talking points: the worry, the optimism, and the questions heading into Sunday. Is this a trap game? We make our case.