Four rookies starting on defense
Getting advice from Kuechly is a smart idea, because this group needs all the help they can get. The Panthers are likely going to field the youngest defense the NFL has seen in a decade. With such an inexperienced group of players, defensive coordinator Phil Snow will have no choice but to rely heavily on his 2020 draft class.
On that note, four rookies were spotted wearing black jerseys, which means they are starting on defense. David Newton at ESPN reports that defensive tackle Derrick Brown, linebacker/safety Jeremy Chinn, defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and cornerback Troy Pride Jr. were all sporting black jerseys tonight.
There’s still time for the veterans to earn those starting spots, though.