Carolina Panthers face defensive uncertainty under Todd Wash
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers acknowledged an unusual degree of uncertainty heading into their Week 9 game against the Denver Broncos as interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash prepares to call plays for the first time. The change follows the dismissal of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero last week, and coach Dave Canales said the move creates an element of the unknown for opponents and his own team. Canales made the remarks in a team report published Nov. 6, 2026.
Canales compared the situation to the unpredictability teams face when a backup quarterback starts, saying opponents must try to determine what will change under new play-calling while relying on recent tendencies of the players. He said the Panthers are leaning on the most recent information available and on players executing elements of the game plan they can play fast and confidently. Canales also noted the timing of injury-report releases will align with the Broncos’ Mountain Time Zone report later Friday.
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson could be a direct beneficiary of the uncertainty and recent injuries. Dodson, who has started 44 games in 97 career appearances and logged 129 tackles with Miami in 2025, provides experienced depth behind starters Devin Lloyd and Bobby Okereke. Okereke did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because of a foot issue, and Canales said the team trusts Dodson to step in if needed; Dodson previously started in Week 3 this season and recorded six tackles in that game.
Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders continues to make an impact in practice and on the scout team despite not appearing in a game this season, Canales said. The Panthers added Darren Waller in the offseason, a move that has limited Sanders’ snaps on game days, but Sanders’ prior experience — 13 starts over 29 games with 62 receptions and two touchdowns the previous two years — gives Carolina a veteran option if a tight end must step in. Canales emphasized Sanders’ value on special teams and his readiness to contribute when called upon.
The Panthers will finalize their injury designations later Friday afternoon when the team posts its report to match the Broncos’ schedule, and Canales did not elaborate on the status of specific starters beyond noting Okereke’s limited practice. With Wash taking over defensive play-calling, the staff and players must balance continuity with any schematic adjustments the interim coordinator brings. Canales said he and his staff will weigh Wash’s history and recent practice work to make sure the team is prepared for what the Broncos may see on film.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Panthers enter Week 9 with a real tactical wrinkle: an interim coordinator who has recent NFL experience but whose immediate game plans are not fully baked into opponent scouting. That uncertainty can be an advantage if Wash keeps core principles the players know while mixing in new looks opponents have not recently seen. Tyrel Dodson’s NFL experience and recent work with the team give Carolina a credible contingency if Bobby Okereke cannot play, and Ja’Tavion Sanders’ familiarity with the offense and special-teams role preserves depth at tight end. The Panthers’ ability to limit disruption will depend on how quickly players adapt to any new play-calling and how the staff communicates roles before Sunday’s game.