If Robert Hunt is a dawg, Damien Lewis is plain scary.
Lewis, a former Seattle Seahawks guard, signed a four-year, $53 million with the Carolina Panthers during the first week of free agency. Recently, the 27-year-old detailed what he wants to bring to the Panthers, and his comments should terrify the rest of the NFL.
“In my head, I’m thinking about, I’m gonna punish you every play. Like I’m fixin’ to set the tone. I’m gonna be this tone-setter,” Lewis said on Wednesday in a press call with reporters. “So I’m thinking about putting your face in the ground.”
At 6-foot-2, 337 pounds, Lewis did not allow more than three sacks in any of his four seasons in Seattle. His time with the Seahawks overlapped with new-look head coach Dave Canales. He is now tasked with bringing that same intensity to Charlotte.
His primary objective will be keeping now-sophomore quarterback Bryce Young upright.
During Young's rookie season, he was sacked 62 times. That is the second most of any rookie quarterback in NFL history. The only quarterback sacked more than Young was David Carr, who was sacked 76 times during his rookie year.
Lewis will use his experience blocking for a shorter quarterback in Russell Wilson to ensure Young has more time to read the field during the 2024 season.
It is a challenge the former Seahawk feels comfortable taking on.
"I’ve gotta be dominant in everything I do," Lewis said. "I’ve gotta keep running through your face."
The Panthers aren't upset about landing Lewis to make sure Young can be the best version of himself in his second season.
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