Overview
- The Panthers dismissed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coach Jonathan Cooley on Friday after a 27-19 loss to the Packers, a change the team confirmed in an official announcement.
- Defensive line coach Todd Wash was elevated to interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays, and outside linebackers coach AC Carter will add defensive line duties.
- Carolina’s defense had been struggling all season, entering Week 8 near the bottom in total yards allowed and last against the run, and those failures were cited as the main reason for the shake-up.
- Injuries have thinned the secondary with Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans on injured reserve, a factor reporters said has limited what any coordinator can fix quickly.
- Wash brings 31 years of coaching experience, including five seasons as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator, and his first game calling plays for Carolina will be Nov. 8 when the Broncos visit Charlotte; the short-term goal is to improve tackling, communication and run defense rather than install a new scheme.