CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman didn't play a defensive snap in Week 1 at Tampa Bay. He didn't become a regular in the starting lineup until four weeks ago against Seattle.

Now he may be Carolina's best defender.

In Carolina's 19-17 loss to Atlanta, the third-year player out of Coastal Carolina was asked to shadow Julio Jones. Ranked fourth in the league in receptions, Jones was held to six catches for 59 yards and no touchdowns.

A week earlier against Tampa Bay, Jones had eight catches for 119 yards.

Two weeks ago, Norman was assigned Jeremy Maclin a week after Philadelphia's leading receiver had six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns against Houston. Maclin had three catches for 38 yards and no touchdowns.

Norman likely will draw Minnesota's Greg Jennings in Sunday's 1 p.m. ET game in Minneapolis.

He doesn't have the shutdown corner reputation that Seattle's Richard Sherman does, but at 6-1 and 195 pounds he has a similar build and Sherman-like potential.

"He's come a long way from Day 1," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. "He was somebody right off the bat that did a lot of good things, a lot of risky things ... kind of his hair was on fire type of play. Trying to get him to come into the fold and the mix was hard.

"But it's paying off and he's responded and done the things you would like for a corner to do."

Norman is the 34th-ranked cornerback with a rating of plus-2.1, according to Pro Football Focus. No other Carolina defensive back has a positive number. Left corner Antoine Cason ranks 100 at minus-8.0. Melvin White, the player Norman replaced on the right side, ranks 108 at minus-9.5.

Before Norman emerged, the Panthers hesitated to make one player responsible for another team's star receiver. They really haven't done that like they have the past two games since Chris Gamble, who holds the franchise record with 27 career interceptions, in 2012.

Norman's cover ability, as well as the attitude he brings, has helped stabilize the defense the past four games. He's just as brash on the field as he is off the field and doesn't back down from anybody.

That resulted in an $8,268 fine for his part in a fight against Atlanta wide receiver Harry Douglas after both dragged each other to the ground by their facemasks.

That brashness and confidence is one of the reasons Norman believes former teammate Captain Munnerlyn, now with the Vikings, felt threatened by him in 2012.

But Norman isn't so brash that he's forgotten what it was like last season when he spent nine games -- including the final four -- on the inactive list because coaches lost confidence in his ability to play under control.

He also remembers what it was like in 2012 when he was benched after the 12th game for a lack of discipline in a loss at Kansas City. He didn't get that spot back until three games ago.

"I came from a long way," Norman said. "I'm very grateful. I've got to take that all into perspective and not get too high and not get too low about the situation and just be humble and maintain my composure through it all.

"It's crazy how things work out, right? I'm blessed beyond measures. I'm very fortunate to be in the situation I am now."