Panthers DC Ejiro Evero comments on Monday's big training camp brawl

Monday’s session at Carolina Panthers training camp was headlined by yet another summertime scuffle.

The fight apparently started with safeties Nick Scott and Lathan Ransom targeting running back Jonathon Brooks for a physical shot, which upset several offensive players—namely center Luke Fortner, backup tackle Stone Forsythe and starting quarterback Bryce Young. Veteran cornerback Mike Jackson came to the defense of Carolina’s safeties and their aggressive instincts, and he got into some jawing with Young.

Afterwards, head coach Dave Canales claimed to have no problem with the fight, and that he wants to encourage his players to be physical . . . because, after all, it’s football.

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero shares the same sentiment.

Here’s what Evero had to say for his unit’s part in the fracas, per Joe Person at The Athletic:

“We want to strive to practice the way we’re gonna play. And we know that we’ve gotta protect our team. We don’t want to take any side shots. We don’t want to hit in the back. We don’t want to take guys to the ground,” Evero said. “But at the same time we’ve gotta get ready to play football and to play real football. So we’ve gotta be physical. We’ve gotta use our hands. We’ve gotta put our face on people at times. And I know that makes the offense better as well.”

“We want to strive to practice the way we’re gonna play. And we know that we’ve gotta protect our team. We don’t want to take any side shots. We don’t want to hit in the back. We don’t want to take guys to the ground,” Evero said. “But at the same time we’ve gotta get ready to play football and to play real football. So we’ve gotta be physical. We’ve gotta use our hands. We’ve gotta put our face on people at times. And I know that makes the offense better as well.”

Fights are also a healthy expression of competitive spirit at this stage of the league’s calendar. The Panthers’ starters still haven’t had a chance to face anyone wearing a different uniform, and are naturally champing at the bit to get out there and hit somebody.

Luckily, they’ll soon be getting that chance—as Canales told reporters on Sunday that the first unit will see a bit of preseason action this weekend. Carolina will be traveling to the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. to take on the Buffalo Bills on Saturday afternoon.

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