MUNICH — Jadeveon Clown I’ve never been to Germany before this week. And Carolina Panthers The veteran edge rusher also wasn’t sure if he would make the trip.

Clowney told Athletic On Friday, he thought he had a chance to be picked up by a contending team before Tuesday’s trade deadline. But now Clowney, here for the second international game in the Panthers’ history, will be hoping to make his mark against the Panthers. New York Giants.

“I thought so, too, based on the record,” Clowney said when asked about the possibility of being traded. “But on Sundays I go out there and do my best. “I hope no matter what happens, they see my value here and want to keep me in the team.”

Clowney, who grew up in Rock Hill, S.C. and played at South Carolina, signed a two-year, $20 million deal with his hometown team during the offseason. But it’s reasonable to think the former No. 1 pick might be more valuable to a playoff contender than to a Panthers team that enters Sunday’s game with a 2-7 record.

But while we’re hopeful for the Super Bowl Kansas City And Detroit was exchanged for passers Josh Uche and Za’Darius SmithIn turn, before the deadline, Clowney remained where he was.

“You never know,” he said. “I signed for two (years). I was expecting to be here. “I was hoping everything would go well for me.”

This is not the season the 31-year-old Clowney envisioned for himself or the Panthers. With one sack in seven games, he was well off the pace he was in 2023, when he set a career high with 9.5 sacks. Baltimore Ravens. Clowney believes the Panthers’ passing offense has been negatively affected by the fact that they often fall behind late in games.

Clowney was fired Malik Willis Twice last year when the Ravens beat the team Tennessee Titans in London. Maybe he’ll have another big game overseas and outshine the Giants. Brian Burnsthe old Panther, a popular story.

“I usually do stuff like that,” Clowney said. “That’s how these things normally work. You’ll see. They’ll talk about me at the end of the game.”

Here are three other Panther issues we talked about in Munich:

Chuba HubbardUnfinished business in Carolina

Much of the controversy following the Panthers’ signing of the running back Chuba Hubbard’s contract extended to four years worth $33.2 million He focused on why head coach Dave Canales and GM Dan Morgan wanted to keep Hubbard around. But what hasn’t been addressed is why did Hubbard want to stay with an organization that has done nothing but lose since being drafted in the fourth round in 2021?

“A lot of people would definitely say, ‘Go somewhere else for your career.’ Do this. Do this. Maybe wait and see what happens.’ But I’ve been committed to the Panthers since I came here, both good and bad,” Hubbard said after the Panthers’ training session at FC Bayern Munich’s academy stadium.

Dinner at Chuba tonight? pic.twitter.com/qNrACw4xjF

— Joe Person (@josephperson) November 8, 2024

“I kept working, kept working to change the culture here. I wanted to be a part of it. “Obviously I still want to be a part of it,” he added. “I want to see this thing turn around, and I know it will. … This is where I want to be and I want to do great things here.”

Hubbard in fifth place NFL running and has since been on track to become the Panthers’ first 1,000-yard rusher. Christian McCaffrey Along with his production, Canales and Morgan believe Hubbard embodies what the team wants to represent in terms of leadership and work ethic.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Canales said. “I was very excited when I found out that the deal was done, and we shared a great moment with Chuba. Because both parties are needed. He needs to believe in what we are doing, and we believe in what he is doing.”

Jonathan Brooks’ case

Continuing on the topic of running backs, Hubbard believes rookie Jonathan Brooks has the same connections as him. “He’s one of those guys,” he said. “He’s definitely different. He is special. I’ve said this before; “He reminds me of myself in a lot of ways when it comes to work ethic and things like that.”

Brooks was added to the active roster this week after missing the first nine weeks recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery that ended his senior season at Texas last November. But the Panthers were cautious with Brooks’ recovery, and Canales remained undecided on whether the second-round pick would be available against the Giants.

Canales passes Brooks and free-agent pass rusher DJ WonnumHe is in the same category, having suffered health complications after quadruple surgery last December.

“Those are possibilities,” he said. “They’ve looked good all week, so with their availability and knowing that these are two really good players that can help us, they make it quite difficult for us to make a decision. We’ll make that decision in the next few days.”

Hubbard is excited to see Brooks in action whenever that is.

“Throughout his injury and not being able to play early on, he worked really hard to learn the playbook and defense. He asks the right questions,” Hubbard said. “When you get out there, relax and get your feet under you, there are no limits.”

Jonathon Brooks will likely make his NFL debut in Germany. pic.twitter.com/QqsTTjFf5C

— Joe Person (@josephperson) 6 November 2024

pick your poison

With Ikem Ekwon He missed his second consecutive game with an ankle injury. Brady Christensen will start from the left struggle again, Cade Mays He replaces Christensen at center. Mays, who was on the Giants’ practice squad after the Panthers cut him in August, performed well on the road. New Orleans Saints last week. According to Pro Football FocusMays allowed no pressure on 29 pass blocks and tied for first among centers with an 84.4 guard rating.

But Mays and the Panthers’ guards will have their hands full this week with Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, whose nine sacks rank second in the league – just one short of Carolina’s team’s sacks. Of course, Sunday won’t be a picnic for Christensen either: The former team All-American at BYU will be matched up against Burns, who had five sacks halfway through his first season in New York.

GO DEEPER

Panthers’ NFL midseason predictions: Chuba Hubbard hits 1,000 and Carolina wins 4 games

“You really can’t avoid it. We’re going to have some good matchups and we’ve got to be really smart about how we pass the ball,” Canales said. “I think it just takes into account all these players and the challenges that these matchups present us.”

Bryce Youngwho is making his third straight start at quarterback, said he will keep an eye on Burns, but not at the expense of overlooking players like Azeez Olujari (six sacks) and Lawrence. The Giants lead the NFL with 35 total sacks.

“Obviously, I know Burns,” Young said. “Know what kind of a player, a competitor he is. So we know we have to do our best for him. They also have a lot of (other) good players in defense, really good players up front. … They’re good enough everywhere that you can’t sell them to just one person.”

(Photo: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)