The Associated Press

MIKE CRANSTON

AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE -- Jake Delhomme, move over. Julius Peppers has taken your spot as scapegoat for Carolina's dismal start.

While Delhomme recovered from a two-game, 11-turnover stretch to throw for over 300 yards on Sunday in Atlanta, the defense reverted to its late-season form of 2008 to keep the Panthers winless.

There was no pass rush, poor run defense, shoddy tackling -- and another nearly invisible performance by this season's highest-paid NFL player.

A day after Carolina's 28-20 defeat, the defense had such a long film session Monday that players said there was a "halftime" break.

Then Peppers -- who managed two tackles and no sacks against the Falcons -- left the stadium without speaking to reporters.

With a $16.7 million salary, that amounts to more than $500,000 per tackle.

Through two games Peppers has one of Carolina's two sacks and the defending NFC South champions are stuck at the bottom of the division.

"I understand the criticism, not just of Julius, but our team," coach John Fox said.

"As I said last week when everybody wanted to blame Jake to this week when everybody wants to blame Julius, I don't think that's the answer."

With his giant franchise-tag salary and coming off an offseason where he did everything he could to leave town, the Panthers knew Peppers would be under intense scrutiny this season.

So far, not so good.

The four-time Pro Bowl pick's sack in the season-opening 38-10 loss to Philadelphia came after the game was out of hand. The lone time he was seen near Atlanta's Matt Ryan Sunday came on an incompletion in the fourth quarter, just before Carolina's last-ditch drive ended with Delhomme throwing an interception on fourth down.

But that was Delhomme's only pick a week after throwing four and losing a fumble.

Delhomme completed 25 of 41 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams added 79 yards rushing and a TD.

The offense did its part. The defense faltered. And now Carolina is 0-2 with a Monday night game at Dallas up next.

"We just need to get it down," injured safety Chris Harris said of new coordinator Ron Meeks' Cover-2 system. "We need to get as close to perfect with it as we possibly can -- and soon -- before it's too late."

Harris, who has missed the first two games with a sore knee, was optimistic he could return for the Dallas game. But Carolina has more injury headaches.

"There's no question that injuries have been problematic," Fox said. "They were through preseason and they've continued into the regular season. It happens to different teams at different times."

But Peppers is healthy, and the same problems that plagued Carolina when it allowed 30 or more points in five of the final seven games last season were on display at the Georgia Dome.

Ryan wasn't sacked and threw 13 straight completions at one point.

The secondary's soft zone coverage gave receivers a cushion as Ryan was 21 of 27 for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Michael Turner added 105 yards rushing and another TD.

It's not the results the Panthers can accept when they're paying Peppers about 14 percent of the salary cap.

But as he was a week earlier with Delhomme, Fox was in full-defense mode Monday.

"He draws some attention. They've got chips. There are protection sets to him quite a bit," Fox said of Peppers.

"John Abraham is a pretty good player, and I'm not sure how many sacks he had. The difference was their team won."

Left tackle Jordan Gross did hold Abraham without a sack, part of the much improved play by the offensive line that helped Delhomme regain his poise.

But it wasn't enough to overcome a pedestrian performance by Carolina's career sacks leader.

"He executed well enough for us to be in position to win," Fox insisted.

"The reality is we didn't, but I don't know that it is Julius' fault."

Panthers DT Leonard has broken left ankle

Panthers defensive tackle Louis Leonard has a broken left ankle, another blow to Carolina's thin and shaky defensive line.

Leonard was injured with just over a minute to go on the final defensive play of Sunday's loss at Atlanta.

Coach John Fox on Monday wouldn't say for sure that Leonard will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, but the Panthers will almost certainly have to sign another defensive tackle.

Leonard was acquired Sept. 1 from Cleveland for a 2010 late-round draft pick to help replace starter Maake Kemoeatu.

Carolina's top run-stuffer was lost to a season-ending ruptured Achilles' tendon on the first day of training camp.

Leonard started alongside Damione Lewis against the Falcons because Nick Hayden was out with a toe injury.

Leonard, who played all 16 games with the Browns last season and had four starts, was expected to take hold of the starting job.

"I thought he played pretty well in the game," Fox said. "I think he would have just continued to get better."

The only other defensive tackle on the roster is rookie Ra'Shon Harris, claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh before the season opener.

Fox declined to say if he felt Hayden would be available for next Monday's game at Dallas.

"We'll kind of wait and see how his progress goes," Fox said.

"Typically we only go into a game with three (activated defensive tackles). We'll kind of evaluate who's available and what our best move will be."

Leonard's injury leaves the Panthers' struggling defense reeling. Carolina has managed two sacks in two games -- one by Leonard -- and Michael Turner rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown Sunday as Carolina (0-2) remained winless.

Other Panthers injured Sunday included Na'il Diggs (bruised ribs) and fullback Brad Hoover (back spasms).

The Panthers won't practice again until Thursday because of the Monday night game.