Carolina Panthers in 'win now' mode following Stephon Gilmore trade

The Carolina Panthers have been one of the more unexpected teams after four weeks of the NFL season, but it’s clear the Panthers brass believe this year’s group has a chance to make a run in the playoffs.

The Panthers defense has been ranked atop the NFL all season, so it was obviously a blow when first-round shutdown cornerback Jaycee Horn went down with an injury vs. the Houston Texans.

Horn is expected to return at some point later this season, but Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer took an aggressive approach, sending a clear message to the rest of the league.

“This is the way Scott’s wired; this is the only way I know,” Rhule said in an exclusive interview with Panthers.com. “I don’t want to sit around and wait to win. I also don’t want to do things to jeopardize the future; I don’t want to take shortcuts.

Rhule said now it’s about going from really good… to great.

“We have a good team right now,” the Panthers front man added. “We’re trying to become a really good team, trying to become a great team. That’s in the way you practice and prepare, and get as many good players as possible.”

Carolina Panthers make big moves

The move for former top-10 pick CJ Henderson last week was strong, but on Wednesday, the Panthers made a major splash to bolster a defense that has thrived early this season.

In dealing for 2019 NFL defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore, the Panthers added someone who can help them win now — or at least when he’s eligible to play in Week 7.

The Gilmore signing was a major move for several reasons. According to Panthers.com, the acquisition sent an unmistakable signal to a team that blinked for the first time last week in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Panthers won’t let setbacks define them in 2021, and when Gilmore was added to a defense already loaded with talent, the players heard the message loud and clear.

“We’re ready to win now,” quarterback Sam Darnold said after the recent wave of aggressive moves. “I think that’s the biggest thing. We’re all aware, we can win games, and we’re capable of doing that. So that’s really the message it sends.”

That sounds like a confident quarterback who has already shattered expectations after four weeks.

Two defensive starters agreed with Darnold’s take.

“I think everyone in this building believes we can win now,” veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones said. “Even before that.”

“They’re confident we can win right now,” cornerback Donte Jackson added.

There is still a 13-game regular season ahead, and nobody is pegging the Carolina Panthers as Super Bowl favorites quite yet. Still, it’s clear in just year-two, the duo of Rhule and Fitterer believe they have the pieces in place to win now.