A weak Carolina pass rush gets even worse with both Short and Gross-Matos out. The Panthers produced a league-low 6.7% pressure rate last week and now are without Short, who ranked 25

th

among DL in pressure rate, in his last healthy season in 2018. In addition, Short ranked 14

th

in run defense grade in 2018, according to PFF. The Panthers were hopeful he’d stabilize the worst DVOA run defense in the NFL last season, so this is a big blow. After one week, Carolina ranks 29

th

in run defense. The backup to Short is Zach Kerr, who received a PFF run defense grade of 59.6 and produced 0 pressures on 24 snaps last week. Tom Brady, Ronald Jones, and that Tampa offense are licking their chops.