Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan has missed time with a broken hand and pulled hamstring.
Knight Ridder Newspapers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Walk through the Carolina Panthers’ locker room and ask about middle linebacker Dan Morgan. Just about every answer starts with the same four-word qualifier.

“When he is healthy, he’s one of the best middle linebackers in this game,” defensive tackle Brentson Buckner said.

“When he is healthy, he’s as good as they come,” defensive end Mike Rucker said.

The good news for the Panthers is that Morgan is healthy these days. He has been for five straight weeks, and it’s no coincidence the Carolina defense has thrived during that time. During a season in which virtually everything has gone right for Carolina, things have started to go right for their most star-crossed player.

In three postseason games, Morgan leads the team with 33 tackles. He also had an interception that helped seal a victory against Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game.

“I’m 100 percent now, and it is the best I’ve felt all season,” Morgan said.

All is suddenly well with Morgan and the Carolina defense.

When Morgan’s at full strength, so is the defense.

“The guy goes sideline to sideline and he’s one of the best out there,” Rucker said.

“I love going to battle with him. I know I’m going to get everything he’s got. It makes it fun to see him make those tackles when it looks like they’re about to pop for 5 or 10 yards and he runs them down for a loss or no gain.”

That wasn’t the case for much of the season. Morgan began the season with a broken hand and missed the second and third games with a pulled hamstring. He missed all or parts of six other games while experiencing symptoms of a concussion.

The third-year player also missed 13 games in his first two seasons with a variety of injuries.

“I think the most frustrated guy through all of this has been Dan,” coach John Fox said. “He went through a college career (without injuries).

“It’s not been a history of his. In his short time in the league, he’s had a rash of stuff that it’s nobody’s fault. It just happens. It’s a very physical game, and injuries are part of it.”

The Panthers don’t want to dwell on the past. They’d rather talk about a present that includes a healthy Morgan and a healthy defense.

“To have somebody like that out on the field with you and you know that if the ball gets past you, it’s not going much further, you just pin your ears back and play,” Buckner said.

“I’m just happy for him because he’s been much-maligned about being hurt.”

Still, it’s tough to talk about Morgan’s impact without using a qualifier.

“Now, everybody knows that when that guy’s healthy, there’s not too many in the NFL better than him,” Buckner said.