5 critical Carolina Panthers observations at the 2022 midseason point
By Dean Jones
What are some critical observations from what’s been an extremely dramatic first half of the 2022 season for the Carolina Panthers?
Well, things certainly haven’t been dull where the Carolina Panthers are concerned in 2022. It’s been another emotional rollercoaster for fans with wins scarce and landmark changes to the coaching staff and roster leaving the franchise looking far different from the one that began the campaign.
The Panthers are currently sitting at 2-7 following their heavy defeat at the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. One could argue this has been a major underachievement considering the talent at Carolina’s disposal, but the atmosphere within the building remains positive under the improved leadership of interim head coach Steve Wilks.
There will be some substantial challenges over the second half of 2022. The schedule looks rough despite the bye week providing some relief, but it already looks like it’s going to be another dramatic offseason period for the Panthers in pursuit of finally getting themselves back into contention.
With that being said, here are five critical Panthers observations at the 2022 midseason point.
Critical Observation No. 1
Derrick Brown is Carolina Panthers MVP so far
Despite the poor record, there have been some encouraging signs for the Carolina Panthers that provide hope for the future. Perhaps the biggest of all is Derrick Brown, who’s taken a significant leap in Year 3 and looks like the player many hoped he’d become as the No. 7 overall selection in 2020.
The defensive tackle has taken the league by storm after a difficult first game against the Cleveland Browns. Brown is imposing, shifting momentum at the line of scrimmage with ease and still putting up outstanding numbers in the face of considerable double teams.
There are other contenders, but Brown is the Panthers MVP right now in 2022. His rise to elite standards has been highly impressive and hopefully, it’s something the Auburn product can sustain long-term.