5 most important Carolina Panthers players in Week 1 vs. Browns

Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB

The middle linebacker position has been a black hole for the Carolina Panthers defense for years now and the team has gone a different direction for the fourth straight year, which isn’t exactly confidence-inducing. Especially when you think about how the team traded away Denzel Perryman last season, who ended up making the Pro Bowl.

It is somewhat surprising that the team didn’t decide to go with emerging player Frankie Luvu up the middle. But Damien Wilson has more experience and is coming off a solid season for an underperforming Jacksonville Jaguars team.

However, this is still a massive question mark for this Panthers’ defense. Especially against a run-heavy team like the Cleveland Browns.

Wilson has to perform well in this game given the relative lack of depth up the middle. One wrong step against star running back Nick Chubb is a touchdown waiting to happen.

There is also the fact that Wilson’s best year came at a different position. So there is every chance Carolina makes a change and puts either Luvu or Shaq Thompson on the interior if this becomes an area of weakness.

Wilson has the lateral quickness and football IQ to make a real difference for this team. But all of this has to come together in Week 1 or the Panthers will get run out of the game.