It's generally not a great sign for your defense when its most physical player is a defensive back. Such is the state of affairs for the Carolina Panthers, who improved from fielding perhaps the worst defense of all-time in 2024 to league average in 2025.
Free-agent additions like Devin Lloyd or Jaelan Phillips might change things—but for now, safety Tre'von Moehrig is still the unit's heaviest hitter and loudest tone-setter. He just has to make sure he keeps those hits legal and that tone within reason.
Moehrig crossed the line a bit last season, when he delivered a low blow to San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football. At the time, Moehrig claimed to be responding to inappropriate
comments from Jennings. Moehrig would then be vindicated the following week, when multiple Cleveland Browns defenders—mainly lineman Shelby Harris—called out Jennings for his unique brand of trash talk.
Still, Moehrig isn't celebrating it. Asked again recently about what happened with Jennings, Moehrig downplayed it—and called the incident a distraction, per Joe Person at The Athletic:
"That was a distraction for the team and my teammates, and I didn’t want to put them in that position or myself," he said. "So I tried to just flush it and keep moving . . . I try not to take any cheap shots," he said. "But if it presents itself and we’re face to face or you see me headed your way, I’m gonna try to put a shoulder pad on you and get my rep in as well."
The low blow resulted in a one-game suspension for Moehrig. In the end, he put in 990 snaps over 16 contests—totaling 103 combined tackles (14 for a loss), 3.0 sacks, seven quarterback hits and an interception—and was a big reason for Carolina's growth on defense.
As fate would have it, Moehrig's punishing style of play took centerstage during Wednesday's joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Moehrig, per multiple reports, leveled Jaguars wide receiver Tim Jones—causing a bit of a skirmish between the teams.
Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and all shots were, seemingly, kept above the belt.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers S Tre'von Moehrig comments on last year's incident with 49ers WR
