HOUSTON — Derrick Brown wasn't supposed to play Saturday.

That was the plan for Dave Canales heading into the week, and the decision was made. But Brown wouldn't stop bugging his head coach.

"Oh, he was begging me," Canales admitted after the Panthers' preseason game versus the Houston Texans.

This is the first time the defensive end has suited up and taken the field since Week 1 of the 2024 season, when he suffered a meniscus tear that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Brown spent the past year putting his body, specifically his knee, through rigorous training and extensive rehabilitation.

So when it became clear his teammates were going to be playing on Saturday, Derrick Brown was determined to be out there with them.

"It wasn't my intention to play Derrick, I'll be honest, and he was like, 'Coach, I just got to get out there. I got to get my hands on somebody.' And he was wearing (defensive line) coach (Todd) Wash too, and I just love the fact he wants to be out there with his guys," said Canales.

"He wanted to be able to see game speed, be able to get his hands on something and knock something back, and so I was really excited to see Derrick back out there."

While Saturday was a preseason game in which Brown and the starting defense only played two series, it was a jolt of energy to see one of the most important voices in the locker room back on the field. And for Brown, it was a relief just to line up again.

"It was very few, but it was good to be back out here," Brown said during a sideline interview with the Panthers Television Network. "Just trusting the process throughout this whole past year, begging to just get something out here today."

A rib/oblique kept Brown out of the joint practice and the first preseason game with the Browns. So, the ability to simply go through the entire week with his teammates and for himself, practicing on Thursday and playing today, was a step in the right direction for the Pro Bowler, who set a single-season record for most tackles by a defensive lineman (103 in 2023) the last time he played a full season.

"I was able to be out here with the team," Brown continued. "So, I was excited to be able to go out there and just kind of set the tone from the beginning of the week, showing up here, doing a joint practice, and then just rolling into this game and being able to be with my teammates."