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Charlie Manuel, the folksy, former manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, coined the phrase “hittin’ season” to describe the point in the schedule when the weather would warm up and so would the bats.

The NFL has a different kind of hittin’ season, which begins Wednesday for the Carolina Panthers. And if history is any indication, expect safety Tre’von Moehrig to be in the middle of things when the pads start poppin’ at the Panthers’ joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Jags’ practice facility.

During a joint practice last summer in Houston, Moehrig decked Texans wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson on a hard but clean hit that angered a few of Hutchinson’s teammates. Moehrig made no apologies afterward.

Moehrig, the ex-Las Vegas Raiders safety entering his second season with Carolina, said he won’t go head-hunting in Jacksonville. However, he’s not going to back down, either.

“I’m not gonna say I’m just gonna go out there and cause a fight. I’m not looking to do any of that,” he said. “But definitely when it’s a different opponent, you don’t have that kind of relationship or bond with those kinds of guys. So if it gets hostile, it gets hostile. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“I’m gonna still do my job at the end of the day and be physical and play my play style. We’ll see what happens.”

Moehrig’s hard-hitting, no-fear mentality is the reason the Panthers signed him to a three-year, $51 million contract after finishing the 2024 season as the NFL’s worst defense. Moehrig responded with 103 tackles — one off his 2024 total — while establishing career highs with 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hits.

Along with the stats, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Moehrig gave the defense an attitude.

“That’s why he’s here. We just loved his play style coming out of Las Vegas,” coach Dave Canales said. “Playing on the edge in the run game, the blitz ability, in the back half disrupting passes with his physicality. And just the tireless, relentless way that he plays with.”

Ejiro Evero, the Panthers’ fourth-year defensive coordinator, recalled watching video of Moehrig at TCU, where he won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2020 as the nation’s top defensive back. Evero followed Moehrig’s four seasons in Vegas and thought he could help the Panthers with his physicality, instincts and ability to make plays on the ball.

Evero hasn’t forgotten Moehrig’s hit in Houston — and others from last summer.

“There’s been a couple of moments in training camp last year where he probably went over the line,” Evero said. “But the thing about Tre’von, he doesn’t say much. He’s very quiet and he keeps to himself. He’s always got a nice smile on his face, so you can assume that he’s a really nice guy, and he is. But he’s a killer on the field, and he’s never gonna shy away from contact.”

Moehrig made headlines last season when he was suspended for a game for punching San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings in the crotch late in a Week 12 matchup on “Monday Night Football.” Moehrig, who said he was responding to Jennings’ “little dirty stuff,” missed the Panthers’ win over the Los Angeles Rams the following week and forfeited $65,000 of his $1.17 million salary.

A week after the Panthers-49ers game, a pair of Cleveland Browns defensive players said Jennings made “demeaning and disparaging” comments during their Week 13 game. Asked if he viewed the Browns’ reaction as vindication, Moehrig said he’s moved on.

“That was a distraction for the team and my teammates, and I didn’t want to put them in that position or myself,” he said. “So I tried to just flush it and keep moving.”

A discussion about physical practices and what constitutes too much contact among teammates came up last week in Charlotte after Bryce Young took umbrage with a hit on running back Jonathon Brooks. Moehrig, who was not in on the tackle or involved in the ensuing scuffle, said if a ball carrier can see him, it’s fair game.

“I try not to take any cheap shots,” he said. “But if it presents itself and we’re face to face or you see me headed your way, I’m gonna try to put a shoulder pad on you and get my rep in as well.”

During an 11-on-11 drill last week, Moehrig tackled running back Chuba Hubbard on a run play. After Hubbard later took a blitzing Moehrig to the ground, the two slapped hands. Moehrig said there’s a mutual respect between the two players, who have become friends.

“There’s no bad blood or anything between us like that. But in between the whistles, it’s getting our job done, getting the work we need in. And once it’s to the next play, we dap each other up and (say), ‘Good work,’ move on to the next play.”

The Panthers improved to 16th in total defense (327.2 yards allowed per game) last season after the addition of Moehrig and the return of defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who missed 16 games in 2024 following knee surgery. Moehrig thinks the Panthers can make another jump this season after the offseason additions of Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd.

As for Moehrig’s personal goals, making his first Pro Bowl is on the list.

“That’d be amazing. I don’t think I have that in the forefront of my head. I’ve always been this kind of guy that’s just doing my job, and those plays and accolades will just come with whatever happens,” he said. “That’d be something really, really cool. But I try not to focus on that.”

Instead, Moehrig will keep his eyes on the target, which will be the guys in the teal and white uniforms. The Jags’ receivers would be wise to keep their eyes on the Panthers’ No. 7.

“Not a guy that says a lot, man of few words,” Canales said of Moehrig. “But he speaks with his pads. He speaks with the physicality that he plays with. And that’s exactly what Dan (Morgan) and I saw in him, and a reason why we wanted to get him here.”