Panthers face Packers with 153.2 yards allowed per game on the ground
Carolina’s defense ranks last in the NFL in rushing defense, a struggle that intensified against Tampa Bay before a Thursday night matchup in Green Bay.
By Harper Laurent ·
The Carolina Panthers travel to Green Bay on Thursday for a prime time game against the Packers, carrying a 3-3 record and a defense that has struggled to contain the run. The team is currently ranked last in the National Football League in rushing defense, allowing 153.2 yards per game through seven weeks. This metric sits 7.5 yards per game above the Dallas Cowboys, who rank 31st in the league.
The Panthers’ inconsistent performance has defined their 2026 season. The squad defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-3 in Week 2 and beat the Detroit Lions in Week 4. Conversely, they surrendered 552 net yards and eight touchdowns to the Chicago Bears in Week 1. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushed for 258 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns in a 30-point victory at Bank of America Stadium.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has overseen a unit that has allowed opponents to rush for 200 yards or more on 12 occasions since his hiring in 2023. The Panthers have permitted such a feat six more times than any other defense since the start of head coach Dave Canales' tenure in 2024. In 2024, Evero's defense allowed a league-worst 3,057 total rushing yards, making it the first unit since 1980 to surrender more than 3,000 rushing yards in a single season.
Canales addressed the issue during a press conference on Monday. He stated that the team is working on the problem and needs to execute adjustments. "I don't want to really air that out, but just understanding that we got to do it," Canales said. "We got to execute it well."
Injuries have complicated the defensive picture. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips and cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson were inactive against Tampa Bay due to hamstring, calf, and groin injuries, respectively. Phillips and cornerback Akayleb Evans were ruled out for Thursday's game. A league source confirmed this week that Evero signed a contract extension in 2025 that runs through the 2027 season.
The offensive line has also shown signs of strain. Right tackle Taylor Moton suffered a fractured fibula in the third quarter against Tampa Bay and will undergo season-ending ankle surgery. The Panthers are turning to first-round pick Monroe Freeling at right tackle and Rasheed Walker at left tackle. Freeling has surrendered 18 total pressures in five games, while Walker has allowed 34 pressures on the season.
Quarterback Bryce Young enters the game with mixed recent results. He threw three interceptions against Tampa Bay but holds the franchise record for passing touchdowns in a five-game stretch with 11. The Panthers rank second in the league in passing yards per game at 276.0. Running back Chuba Hubbard has produced 571 total yards and six touchdowns through six games.
The Packers possess the fifth-ranked passing offense and the ninth-ranked passing defense. Their rushing attack ranks 17th in the league. The Panthers have covered 12 consecutive games after a loss, a streak that is one game short of the longest in the Super Bowl era. The Packers have covered four straight games, which is the longest active cover streak in the NFL.
