CHARLOTTE — Derrick Brown stepped to the mic, tired but elated, the universal look of new dads, particularly those who had just gone through their first true practice in 10 months, and in nearly 100-degree temps, no less.

But joy was exuberant from the normally stoic Brown—who did take part in Friday's walk-through — as he reported on his family's newest addition.

"Good to be back out here with the guys running around, sweating a little bit. Everybody is healthy and happy. My daughter came into the world the other day, and I'm very excited to have her," Brown shared following the Panthers' Saturday training camp practice. "It was a long time in the hospital, but very excited. My wife and daughter are at home healthy, so that's all I can ask for."

The baby girl came in at 7 pounds 4 ounces and is the fourth for the Brown family, and the third girl, which is part of the reason the defensive lineman joked he had to get back on the field pronto.

"All of them have me wrapped around their fingers. So I mean, I'm just got to keep working, got to keep making more money," laughed the Pro Bowler.

"When I get home, my babies is going to come crawl up with me. We lay on the couch together," Brown shared, before quickly adding, "My son and I, you know, we got tough love, tough love, but love them all the same."

The other reason he had to make it back to the field for this year, following his season-ending injury in Week 1 last season?

"My wife may not like me being at home," he said. "I did like to fuss and cuss at the TV."

For as much as Brown may have been at home more often than usual the past 10 months, he has also lived in the Panthers' facilities as much as allowed. His 6:30 a.m. arrival time remained the same. There were days he even brought his oldest two with him while he rehabbed. The goal was to be back better than ever by training camp, and Derrick Brown was going to reach that goal.

"I've been here every single day this offseason, so I mean I worked out all the way up until Monday and went to the hospital and had a few days off to be there for (the birth) and then it's back to ball. Everybody in my house is excited to see me be able to come back, so I'm excited to be back and come out here and get my best foot forward," Brown said.

"So from the time I had surgery in September to coming around now, shout out to the training staff, especially (assistant athletic trainer) Karen (Ocwieja), we've been together every day since.

"I'm motivated as always. I got a chip on my shoulder, being gone for a year, you know, it sucks. But you know, going forward, I'm going to give this team, this organization, the best version of myself."

Being on the sidelines during spring ball and OTAs gave the former first-round pick a unique vantage point on this defensive front seven, as it was being rebuilt through free agency and the draft with the additions of Bobby Brown III, Tershawn Wharton, Patrick Jones II, Nic Scourton, and Princely Umanmielen.

"Not to have success, but to come off and finish strong at the end of the year last year, and then seeing guys turn around OTAs and come out here and we washed that completely," Brown said of his teammates. "I see it in everybody's eyes. It's the level of effort that we're putting into team—and I got to just sit back and watch it this spring. I didn't get to do much team, and I'm excited. I tell everybody I'm excited to get back with the team, do my role, do my part."

The defense does look different, not only from when Brown played last fall, but even since spring. The Panthers released linebacker Josey Jewell earlier this week as he continues to deal with concussion symptoms. Brown shared he spoke with Jewell while waiting at the hospital for his daughter to be born, before adding he's been impressed thus far with how Christian Rozeboom has stepped in with the green dot.

Another change for Brown? Being in drills now with rookie pass rushers Scourton and Umanmielen.

"They're both really fast off the edge. I can deal with that, real fast off the edge, the quarterback step up. I'm not opposed to that at all," laughed Brown.

There are still strides to make for the defensive lineman. He isn't running at 100 percent yet, committed to following the athletic trainers' acclimation plan, even if he wishes he could be let loose. And he is still wearing a brace to support the right knee, something he may continue to do during the season.

"I don't know yet," he admitted of the decision. "I wore one in college, so I mean it's nothing new. I think it's just comfortability and mentally getting to that point where I want to take it off."

That will come with time, though, and time is something Derrick Brown and the Panthers technically still have, albeit in short supply. There are two weeks until the first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, and six weeks until the regular season begins.

Until then, Derrick Brown will continue to enjoy the sweet time at home with a new baby, and integrate himself in a defense that has grown exponentially in his time away. It's created a sense of excitement at both places, and when he gets out of the house to come to work now, there is a belief unlike Brown remembers feeling before.

"Don't doubt us, don't doubt us," he preached. "You got a lot of hungry people out here. If that's what people want to say, it is one thing, but I mean just inside the building, everybody believes, and that's more dangerous, so I'm excited to see what this team holds."