The Panthers have parted ways with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Defensive line coach Todd Wash has been named interim defensive coordinator and will call plays, per The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero.

The team also parted ways with defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley in the coaching staff shakeup.

The moves come after Carolina fell to 3-4 on the season following a 27-19 loss to the Packers Thursday night and allowing 43 points to the Buccaneers last weekend. In a thus far lackluster NFC South, the Panthers still hover near the top of their division after their loss Thursday.

The Panthers are giving up 27.6 points per game, seventh worst in the league.

Evero joined the Panthers in 2023, as did Wash.

The Panthers’ defensive core has not lived up to the high expectation of this past offseason after bringing in Bobby Okereke, Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips.

Injuries have played a role in their struggles, with Phillips dealing with a hamstring issue and Jaycee Horn on injured reserve with a torn quad, among others. The Panthers are down to their fifth and sixth options on the cornerback depth chart, but Evero has also received criticism for his units looking underprepared.

Wash has 31 years of experience as a coach, including 20 in the NFL. He was the defensive coordinator in Jacksonville for five seasons from 2016 to 2020, including the 2017 run to the AFC Championship Game in a season where the Jaguars had the No. 2-ranked defense in the league. 

The team will increase the responsibilities of outside linebackers coach and run game specialist AC Carter to include coaching the defensive line.

Wash’s first game as interim coordinator will be on Nov. 8 when the Broncos visit the Panthers.