HOUSTON — Derrick Brown wasn't supposed to play Saturday.

That was the plan for Dave Canales heading into the week, and the decision was made. But Brown wouldn't stop bugging his head coach.

"Oh, he was begging me," Canales admitted after the Panthers' preseason game versus the Houston Texans.

This is the first time the defensive end has suited up and taken the field since Week 1 of the 2024 season, when he suffered a meniscus tear that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Brown spent the past year putting his body, specifically his knee, through rigorous training and extensive rehabilitation.

So when it became clear his teammates were going to be playing on Saturday, Derrick Brown was determined to be out there with them.

"It wasn't my intention to play Derrick, I'll be hon

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