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Jalen Coker Jalen Coker Signs three-year extension
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 6:20 PM
Coker and the Panthers agreed on a three-year, $35 million contract extension with incentives up to $41 million Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Coker was entering a contract year after signing his exclusive-rights free-agent tender with Carolina in April, but he will now be under contract for the next few seasons. The wide receiver has combined to catch 65 of 89 targets for 872 yards and five touchdowns over 22 regular-season contests in his first two NFL campaigns. He is set to enter the 2026 season as the Panthers' primary slot receiver, and he'll look to take a step up in production after his big payday. |
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Xavier Legette Xavier Legette Sheds weight, down to 221 pounds
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 11:16 AM
Legette said Thursday that he's down to 221 pounds after losing 7-9 pounds in the offseason, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Legette also told reporters that he tried to "bulletproof" his problematic hamstrings this offseason. He's missed only three games since the Panthers took him 32nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, but recurring hamstring issues have limited his practice time -- and potentially impacted his in-game performance. Averaging 27.7 receiving yards per game and 5.8 yards per target through two NFL seasons, Legette may now have to compete for the No. 3 WR job during training camp. Rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell headlines the potential competition, with John Metchie and Jimmy Horn being the dark-horse candidates. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan On track for training camp
Wed, Jun 10, 2026, 2:02 PM
The Panthers expect McMillan (ankle) to be ready for the start of training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: McMillan missed some time during OTAs due to what was initially labeled a foot issue, but it is now being dubbed ankle soreness. He participated in practice during the first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, but per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, the 2025 first-rounder is not dressed for practice Wednesday. McMillan himself said Wednesday that he currently feels good and expects to be ready for training camp in July, Kaye reports, an indication that his reps at minicamp may simply be being capped as a precaution. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, head coach Dave Canales said that Carolina's plan is for McMillan to take part in two of the team's three minicamp practices, so the wideout should be back on the field Thursday. |
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Progressing in recovery
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 9:27 PM
Ekwonu is progressing well from the knee injury he suffered in January, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ekwonu said he is "crushing it" in rehab as he works his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. The 2022 first-round pick is expected to return to the field at some point during the upcoming campaign. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Back at practice Tuesday
Tue, Jun 9, 2026, 12:34 PM
McMillan (foot) is participating in practice Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Tuesday is the first day of mandatory minicamp for the Panthers, and McMillan is back in a helmet going through drills after he missed some time during OTAs with a foot issue. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year is coming off a 2025 season in which he caught 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns while playing in all 17 regular-season games. Headed into his second season, McMillan will be looking to build on those numbers with improved chemistry with Bryce Young. |
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Inks deal with Carolina
Mon, Jun 8, 2026, 3:50 PM
Meiga signed with the Panthers on Monday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Meiga, who went undrafted this past April, spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Penn State before transferring to Coastal Carolina for his final two seasons. Across 11 appearances in 2025, he tallied 19 receptions for 209 yards and a touchdown. Standing at 6-foot-4, Meiga adds size to an already tall Panthers' receiving corps. |
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Undergoes shoulder surgery
Fri, Jun 5, 2026, 12:13 PM
Incoom underwent surgery on his shoulder Thursday, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.
Analysis: The nature of Incoom's operation isn't clear, so it remains to be seen what his recovery timeline looks like ahead of training camp next month. The 27-year-old linebacker appeared in all 17 regular-season contests last season, recording 17 tackles (nine solo) while seeing the vast majority of his playing time on special teams. |
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Trevor Etienne Trevor Etienne Behind Brooks on depth chart?
Thu, Jun 4, 2026, 1:55 PM
Etienne appears to be behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks on Carolina's depth chart, competing for a backup role while contributing on special teams, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.
Analysis: A 2025 fourth-round pick, Etienne took just 23 touches on offense during his rookie season, getting far more work on special teams -- 20 punt returns for 163 yards, 31 kick returns for 733 yards. He was one of the least effective return specialists in the league, so he'll need to compete for the kick and punt return jobs this summer. Etienne hopes there's also a competition for the No. 2 RB role behind Hubbard, though fantasy ADPs and early beat-writer reports both peg Brooks as a strong favorite. Behind Hubbard, Brooks and Etienne, the Panthers have veteran journeyman AJ Dillon and UDFAs Anthony Tyus and Miles Davis. |
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Jonathon Brooks Jonathon Brooks Being eased back in
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 9:24 PM
Brooks didn't participate in team drills during Tuesday's OTA session, Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: That said, Brooks participated in individual drills Tuesday, with his limitations characterized by coach Dave Canales as "just a rest day." Given the running back's injury history, notably two ACL tears, it's not surprising that the team is inclined to ramp up the 2024 second-rounder's workload deliberately with an eye toward ensuring he's at full strength once the regular season arrives. In terms of how Brooks has looked in OTAs, Canales noted "JB's looked great, in the run game certainly, but also in the pass game. He has a great ability to catch the ball, track it, and transition once he catches it." With Rico Dowdle now with the Steelers, Brooks -- who missed the entire 2025 season -- has an opportunity to claim a notable backfield role alongside Chuba Hubbard in 2026, provided he can stay on the field. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Remains idle with foot injury
Tue, Jun 2, 2026, 12:36 PM
McMillan (foot) remains sidelined for Tuesday's practice, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: McMillan's injury isn't believed to be serious, and his absence seems more precautionary than anything else. If the wideout is still sidelined when training camp rolls around in July, however, there will be reason for genuine concern. With McMillan out of action, other options like rookie Chris Brazzell will get more practice reps. |
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Ja'Tavion Sanders Ja'Tavion Sanders Looking healthy at OTAs
Wed, May 27, 2026, 3:51 PM
Sanders (fibula) is participating in practice at OTAs on Wednesday, Alex Zietlow of The Charlette Observer reports.
Analysis: Sanders is running and cutting laterally without issue at OTAs, and it appears he's officially back to full health after having undergone surgery to address a broken right fibula suffered last December. He and Tommy Tremble remain positioned as the Panthers' top options at the tight end position, with Sanders potentially being the favorite for more pass-catching utilization. Across 13 regular-season appearances in 2025, Sanders secured 29 of 34 targets for 190 yards and one score. |
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Still nursing shoulder issue
Tue, May 26, 2026, 2:18 PM
Wallace underwent shoulder surgery following the 2025 season and is not yet cleared for contact, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The 23-year-old linebacker from Kentucky had season-ending shoulder surgery following the Panthers' Week 15 loss to the Saints, and it now appears he had a second procedure during the offseason. Wallace was one of Carolina's leading tacklers last season, tallying 61 stops, including 2.0 sacks, and four passes defensed across just 12 regular-season games. Once fully healthy, he's expected to start alongside Devin Lloyd as part of the Panthers' top inside linebacker duo. |
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Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan Dealing with minor injury?
Tue, May 26, 2026, 1:23 PM
McMillan worked with the training staff Tuesday while his teammates practiced on the first day of OTAs, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: He's likely dealing with a minor injury, as he seemed to finish his rookie season healthy and wasn't reported to need offseason surgery. McMillan played in all 18 of Carolina's games last year, including a playoff loss, and he was named the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts as a 1,000-yard receiver. He's locked in as the centerpiece of Carolina's passing game, with no real threats around him to capture him a large target share. |
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Picked up by Carolina
Wed, May 20, 2026, 3:05 PM
Haarberg signed with the Panthers on Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Haarberg spent three years at Nebraska before going undrafted this past April. Ahead of the 2025 season, he transitioned from quarterback to tight end. During that season, the 23-year-old appeared in nine games and tallied eight receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Now in Carolina, he'll compete for a spot on the active roster as the offseason progresses. |
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Bryce Pierre Bryce Pierre Reverts to IR
Tue, May 19, 2026, 8:03 PM
Pierre (undisclosed) reverted to Carolina's injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Pierre was let go by the Panthers on Monday but will remain with the team after going unclaimed on waivers. The 25-year-old spent last season on Carolina's practice squad but didn't appear in any games and will now have to miss the entirety of the upcoming campaign unless he's waived with an injury settlement. |
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Montrell Johnson Montrell Johnson Reverts to IR
Tue, May 19, 2026, 7:53 PM
Johnson (undisclosed) reverted to Carolina's injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Johnson will remain with the Panthers after going unclaimed on waivers. The 23-year-old signed a reserve/future contract with the team in January and will now be forced to miss the entirety of the upcoming campaign unless he's waived with an injury settlement. |
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Signs with Carolina
Mon, May 18, 2026, 5:48 PM
The Panthers signed Davis as an undrafted free agent Monday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Analysis: Davis ended his collegiate career with Utah State in 2025, where he ran the ball 131 times for 731 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 28 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The undrafted rookie will look to earn a spot on the active roster as he competes in the Panthers' offseason program. |
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Out indefinitely
Fri, May 15, 2026, 6:11 PM
Wharton underwent neck surgery in early May and is out indefinitely, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Wharton signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Panthers last offseason, and he played just nine regular-season games in 2025, recording 36 tackles (11 solo), 2.0 sacks and a pass breakup. It's unclear if he'll miss any time, but LaBryan Ray would likely handle an increased workload if Wharton's injury lingers. |
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Kobe Prentice Kobe Prentice Inks UDFA deal
Thu, May 7, 2026, 6:40 PM
Prentice signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent Thursday, Kassidy Hill of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Prentice had a decent freshman season at Alabama with a 31-337-2 line over 13 games, but he never really progressed from there, topping out at 380 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Baylor. He's undersized (5-foot-10, 184 pounds) but showcased 4.37 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he'll need to make an impact on special teams to have a chance at the 53-man roster. |
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Bryce Young Bryce Young Contract option picked up
Wed, Apr 29, 2026, 1:02 PM
The Panthers have officially exercised the fifth-year option on Young's rookie contract, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The anticipated move will keep the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft under contract with Carolina through the 2027 season. The 24-year-old is coming off a career year in 2025, during which he set new highs in passing yards (3,011), TDs (23), completion percentage (63.6) and passer rating (87.8), among other other categories, over the course of 16 regular-season contests. Since then, the Panthers signed Kenny Pickett to back up Young and added deep threat Chris Brazzell in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, providing Young a player with upside to fortify a WR corps that returns Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette. |
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