CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When Kony Ealy talks about eating, he means quarterbacks.

He means sacks.

The Carolina Panthers defensive end, like most at his position, likes talking about sacks. It’s not just an ego thing. It’s a measuring stick, not to mention a negotiating tool when contract negotiations roll around.

Ealy would like to one day eat like Houston defensive end J.J. Watt, who has 51.5 sacks the past three seasons and a six-year, $100 million contract to show for it.

He would like for people to refer to him as a freak or an animal, the terms he uses to describe Watt, who comes to Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.

But Ealy isn’t so wrapped up in eating that he doesn’t appreciate and understand the value of doing the “dirty work.’’ That’s being the player that takes on double teams and secures the edge so other players can eat.

Sometimes the “dirty work’’ can earn you just as much praise as eating, as was the case for Ealy following Sunday’s 20-9 victory over Jacksonville.

Officially, Ealy’s name didn’t show up in the defensive stats because he didn’t have a tackle or a sack despite playing 61 percent of Carolina’s 67 defensive snaps.

But Ealy showed up big time, including three quarterback pressures that the coaching staff credited him with after film evaluation.

“It’s not going to reflect in the final stats, but when you go back and look at the plays he allowed to happen by his teammates, those are things you get excited about,’’ coach Ron Rivera said.

“He did the dirty work.’’

As Ealy said, “I did what I was supposed to when I was supposed to.’’

That he didn’t make headlines with sacks didn’t bother Ealy as it might have a year ago. It’s a sign of his growth as a player.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself because I expect to have at least one sack a game, but sometimes that may not be the case,’’ said the 2014 second-round pick out of Missouri.

Ealy would much rather be 1-0 with no sacks like the Panthers are rather than 0-1 with two sacks and six tackles for loss as Watt is.

“Hey, as long as we win, we’re eating as a group . . . that’s all I care about,’’ Ealy said.

The Panthers ate Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles five times, four in the second half. Several of those came because Ealy moved to tackle to add another pass rusher in Mario Addison.

Addison ate twice.

But Ealy was on the field for 10 more plays than Addison. He is becoming the every down end the Panthers are looking for to replace Greg Hardy, who ate a team-high 15 times in 2013 en route to the Pro Bowl and a huge raise.

But remember, Hardy ate only three times as a rookie and four times in his second season. He didn’t reach double-digits until his third year.

Watt ate only five times as a rookie before exploding for 20.5 sacks in his second season.

Ealy had four last season, finishing strong with a sack in each of the final three games.

“I’m still coming into my own,’’ Ealy said. “Those guys have been through it, so they know what it takes. Guys like those are just freaks. Yet, it’s a skill set. You’ve got to work on it day in and day out. It don’t come overnight.’’

Sometimes before you eat, you have to do the dirty work.

But ultimately, Ealy wants to eat.

“I’m going to eat,’’ he said. “I’m not worried about that.’’