CHARLOTTE — Jadeveon Clowney has around 15 tickets on hold for family and friends this weekend. It's a number beat only by Xavier Legette, who will have "family, they coming, about 19-20 deep," joked the rookie about those on hand to watch his NFL debut. It's a homecoming for both, who grew up in South Carolina, and are donning the Carolina process blue for the first time.

"It's great having them. That's why I got excited when they drafted me here, so my family would be able to come on game day," Legette said. "I know the fans are going to bring the energy. It's going to be electric. Hopefully we go out there and play to our ability."

Playing to their ability has been the message for the Panthers this week, as they look to bounce back from a 47-10 loss in Week 1, facing a Los Angeles Chargers team led by Jim Harbaugh in his return to the NFL. As Carolina takes the field for the first time at Bank of America Stadium this regular season, here are five things to watch in the matchup.

Life without DB

What will life look like without Derrick Brown? That's the reality the Panthers have been dealing with this week, after receiving news that Brown's meniscus injury would be season-ending. Coaches and players all were quick to point out this week, you don't replace Derrick Brown. You simply find a way to play without him.

One guy asked to step up will be Nick Thurman.

Thurman has been in the league since 2018, and with the Panthers since last season. He had 31 tackles and a quarterback hit last season, appearing in all 17 games as a rotational player, on the field for around 35 percent of the defensive snaps.

"Nick is a twitchy athlete, he's explosive," defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said this week of Thurman. "He's got really good play strength, and he has the versatility to play the nose and play the end spot. And so, he's a good player and he's had a lot of productive downs for us at both of those spots. We know that he'll do well if his number's called."

Canales conceded there will be wrinkles in the defense, to work around the loss of Brown. Regardless however, "we've got to play our defense, we got to play our calls," Canales said.

Remembering that is vital, while facing a Chargers offense that likes to lean on the run game, wearing out the defense, to eventually pop open an explosive play. Los Angeles had two of those against the Raiders in Week 1, en route to a 22-10 win. J.K. Dobbins was responsible for both of those big runs, one for 46 yards and another for 61 yards.

"It's hard to close the door on the run game, because it ties back into everything," Evero explained. "But I think that we, what we need to do is if we can play the run game better, that's going to get us to the pass rush opportunities and now we can see what we got there."

As far as what they "got there," the Panthers added another option this week, in Charles Harris. Canales said "he could" have a role on Sunday. If that's the case, the former first-rounder will be asked to help supplement a group that got good numbers out of Eku Leota and DJ Johnson on Sunday but are still looking for some more veteran presence opposite Jadeveon Clowney.

Harris comes to Carolina as a former first-rounder who had some of his best play alongside defensive line coach Todd Wash, when the two were in Detroit. He's only been at practice with the Panthers for a few days, but it's been enough to make an impression.

"He looked great," Canales said on Friday of Harris' tape this week. "He handled the workload this week and I don't know what his role in a full capacity would be like, but he certainly looked great this week.

"He was physical at the line of scrimmage. He's got cool pass rush tools. A lot of juice, added a lot of good energy to the group, the professionalism that he has from being around in the league. So, he's got a lot of things that bode in his favor," Canales said.

Facing Justin Herbert

Safety Nick Scott spent a solid 60 seconds breaking down the Chargers run game this week, and what it would take to stop them. But the crux of this defensive plan rests on one very important pillar.

"Try to knock out the run and force them to get in the situation where they have to throw," Scott began, "and then we got to defend number 10."

Number 10, of course, being Justin Herbert.

The fifth-year Chargers quarterback has posted two seasons of 4,300-plus yards, as well as a season (in 2021) when he eclipsed 5,000-plus passing yards. Linebacker Josey Jewell spent the past four seasons in the same division as Herbert and has seen up close what makes the passer hard to defend. According to Jewell, it's not "one big thing."

"He can run the ball," Jewell said, "he's got a strong arm. So just being able to do our job, I think that's the biggest thing."

Added Scott, "It's his experience and his arm talent. He's a first-round draft pick for a reason. Guys like that who are 6-6 can sling it, he can make every throw, he can put the ball where he needs to. So, it's going to require tight coverage from us."

Herbert was in the middle of the pack last season in terms of certain numbers, but he rarely turned the ball over, throwing only seven interceptions, a number tied for seventh-fewest in the league (among quarterbacks who threw at least 200 passes). The Panthers have put an emphasis on turning the ball over this season, particularly this week with tip drills, after fewer attempts on the ball than they wanted against the Saints. It's part of the identity they want to create, but also is preparation for Herbert.

"When he does make a mistake on ball placement, if that happens, we got to make him pay," Scott said.

Tommy Tremble could make a difference

The Panthers' tight end unit could start to take shape the way intended this week, with the return of Tommy Tremble. After missing Week 1 with a hamstring and back that hindered him in the preseason as well, Tremble was able to practice (albeit in a limited capacity) this week.

Canales said on Friday he expects Tremble to be available. With his return, the Panthers offense can open up a bit more.

"The versatility," Canales said, pointing out what Tremble adds. "You can play him in line, you can split him out, some of the things that we call upon from our tight ends, that versatile nature that we're looking for."

"So really excited to getting him, getting him back into the fold as we build the core of what we're doing."

The Panthers also have Messiah Swinson on the active roster. He was inactive versus the Saints, after such a short turnaround from arrival from Green Bay to game time. But the noted blocking end could provide a bit more protection this week, as the offense looks to slow down Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

Countering the two-headed monster

Speaking of the pass-rushing tandem, Bosa and Mack seem teed off and ready to wreck an offensive game plan. The Panthers, coming off a game in which Young was sacked four times, know there will have to be a focus put on the duo that offensive coordinator Brad Idzik described as being able to "go speed to power on you."

Against the Raiders, Bosa and Mack had 10 tackles between them, and 2.5 sacks. It's a daunting assignment, that Idzik said will require help for the line, from both other protectors, and a quick passing game.

"We soak up all the tape, find ways to help those guys out, but then also how to change up the rhythm of the pass game is a big thing. So, you're not just always sitting back, and you have good quick answers to get the ball out, to get them to pursue on the perimeter as well.

"I think that's a big piece, whether it's the run game or the perimeter pass game, get those guys to pursue laterally."

By getting Mack and Bosa to pursue laterally, one would assume the middle is open for the run game. Running back Miles Sanders pointed out though, "the two inside guys are pretty solid too." It doesn't mean there are no options on offense, rather that all options must be executed well.

"They got Derwin James, you got the young guy, Asante Samuel Jr. I'm a big fan of him," Sanders continued. "They got good defense but just got to be fundamentally sound on everything that we got going on and know what we're doing and just execute on everything that we got going on. That's the main thing that I take from last week."

Another takeaway from last week that addressing could help this week, is moving receiver Diontae Johnson around more.

"For us it's just, finding a variety of ways of getting (him) the ball," said Idzik. "He's a dynamic player. So, you don't have to get pigeonholed and just leave him in one spot and, and assume the ball is going to go his way. We just find different ways to get that done."

Potential questions around special teams

The Panthers spent much of their practice time this week with a revolving door on special teams. Punter Johnny Hekker was unable to practice Wednesday and much of Thursday, while nursing a back. He did punt on Friday however and is expected to play as of now.

Returner Raheem Blackshear was forced to miss Thursday and Friday after a personal matter pulled him away. Canales listed Blackshear among the questionable players he expects to be available on Sunday.

If that's not the case, the club will likely turn to Xavier Legette or David Moore. Canales said he's not sure if asking Legette to return punts is "something we'd ask him to do full time, but he'd be ready to go."

Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith has seen enough from Legette however through camp and Week 1, to feel comfortable keeping him back as either a returner or return protector. Legette picked up 28 yards on his one return against the Saints.

"He looked great," Smith said of Legette. "That's something he has done before. He has experience handling the ball obviously, being a returner in college, and he's an outstanding blocker when he doesn't have the ball. So, he has a skill set that really molds itself to that position."