We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2024 season.
We’re officially 7 days away from the Carolina Panthers kicking off the 2024 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints. That’s right, we’re only a week away, y’all! It will be their second consecutive road opener. Now it’s time for our annual roster countdown to highlight the players on the Panthers’ roster. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the player wearing the the No. 7 jersey—outside linebacker Jadaveon Clowney.
The former first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and University of South Carolina standout is also currently the only starting edge rusher that the Panthers have. Somebody else will start opposite him—second year player DJ Johnson is currently penciled into that spot per the team’s depth chart—but there is a lot of pressure on Clowney to be “the guy” for the first time in his career since he left the Houston Texans.
The Texans had the honor of drafting Clowney, where he played for five seasons. He then spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, the Tennessee Titans, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore Ravens over the next five seasons, before signing with the Panthers this year. Injuries have played at least a part in his career trajectory, but the fact remains that Clowney doesn’t have a ten-sack season in his ten-season career.
He remains capable of playing and impacting the game at a high level—15 starts and 9.5 sacks last season in Baltimore show that clearly—but it remains to be seen if he can be successful at this age as the number one threat coming off the edge.
I remain optimistic, but also worried, as the Panthers plan right now consists of them waiting for the also unproven D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno to return from injury after Week 4.
How about it Panthers fans, what are you expecting from Clowney this season? Scroll on down to the comments and share your thoughts with us!