CHARLOTTE– "You can't just jump off the diving board, as they say," Jon Rhattigan proffered this week, a crowd unlike one he has seen all season gathered around the fourth-year linebacker.

"You've got to really break down and find the ball carrier."

This wasn't nonsense philosophizing by Rhattigan. He had a point, and a good one at that.

When the former Seattle Seahawk was claimed off waivers this August, it was to primarily be a core special teamer, something he has done with aplomb, serving as special teams captain a few times, and in contention for the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. When you're playing on special teams, Rhattigan explained, you shoot at a play. That's not always the case on defense.

"My style of playing special teams, I like to shoot my shot. I tend not to break down as much," Rhattigan said. "But on defense you're fitting gaps and you play a lot of football in between. So it's a little bit different."

Rhattigan is focusing on the differences in the units this week because he's about to be asked to play significantly more defensive snaps than he has all season, or for that matter, his career. He's been on the field for one defensive snap this season; albeit a fumble that the Panthers forced and recovered, so it was a good play. His plus-minus rating is great. Last season with the Seahawks, he played 19 defensive snaps.

When Claudin Cherelus— who was filling in for an injured Trevin Wallace— had to come off the field for an injury Sunday against the Cowboys, Rhattigan had to hop in quickly for his first and only aforementioned snap.

"It's quick grab a helmet, go. You got to get ready no matter how many reps you got in practice, you've got to be ready at any moment, especially playing in a position like linebacker.

"Anybody could go down and as you near the end of the season like this guys are getting banged up, guys go down, so ultimately you got to take advantage of every rep you get and when your number is called, you've got to be able to step up and take advantage of it."

It's the mindset the Panthers are not only hopeful for, but dependent on this weekend.

Both Wallace (shoulder) and Cherelus (foot) were placed on injured reserve this week. With only three games remaining in the season, they're out for the rest of the year. Enter Rhattigan and Jacoby Windmon.

The latter has played more defensive snaps this season—one more, for a total of two—but is in his rookie season. The Michigan State product has spent most of this season learning to adjust to the NFL. Everything became accelerated this week.

"I kind of feel like I prepare the same week every week, but now that I have the role, the actual role, I feel like the preparation has to go up a lot more," Windmon said. "The reps on the field goes up more, so it comes with learning, the reps in the film room goes up more so I'm just learning everywhere I go, every chance I get."

Windmon first joined the league with the Steelers. He was there through mid-October before being signed off their practice squad to the Panthers active roster. It was long enough though to pick up on one of Mike Tomlin's famous one-liners. And this one has shaped how Windmon is approaching the opportunity this week.

"Make the routine plays routinely," Windmon shared of the wisdom.

Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has seen this approach in both Windmon's and Rhattigan's preparation, as the duo look to take on more responsibility this week alongside starter Josey Jewell.

"We've seen a lot of great things from these guys in terms of their preparation," Evero said Thursday. "They've, not even this week, but just going back to when Jacoby came in…Rhattigan really has been doing it all season.

"These guys have been spending extra time with (defensive assistant) Mayur Chaudhari outside of the the normal meeting times and just trying to get caught up on our system, learning how we want to play and all of those different types of things."

Having Jewell at their disposal will also help make the transition easier on Sunday against a run heavy Cardinals offense. A veteran and experienced middle linebacker/play-caller, Jewell has been a lifeline as the duo get ready to jump into the fire this week.

"He's been a huge help even when I'm in there, talking to me throughout the whole snap, so he makes my job a lot easier," said Windmon.

Added Rhattigan, "Having a guy like Josey in the room is somebody that's really, really beneficial to learn from, so I feel good and I feel confident and I definitely believe in my abilities."

Sunday will be the first real introduction a lot of Panthers fans have to Rhattigan and Windmon. Those who have spent the past three-and-a-half or plus months with the duo though are looking forward to seeing all they've done on the field transferred to a game.

Said Evero, "These guys have been preparing the entire time, getting ready to deal in this moment. And so now they have their opportunity and so we're excited for them."