Panthers dismiss Evero and Cooley after Packers loss

The Carolina Panthers dismissed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley on Friday, less than 12 hours after losing 27-19 to the Green Bay Packers. Defensive line coach Todd Wash was named interim coordinator and will call the defensive plays, the team announced. The changes followed a second consecutive loss for Carolina, which entered the Packers game with a 3-4 record. The defense had struggled to stop the run: through eight weeks, the Panthers ranked 30th in the NFL, allowing 140.7 rushing yards per game. The team’s announcement did not specify a single reason for the dismissals. Head coach Dave Canales said Friday that he gathered information and consulted owner David Tepper and general manager Dan Morgan before making the decision, but said the choice was his. He described his aim as helping players feel confident, connected and prepared to execute the defensive plan. Canales said the effort had been present but the unit needed to get on the same page. Wash, who joined Carolina’s staff in 2023, has 31 years of coaching experience, including 20 in the NFL. He served as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for...