Panthers Avoid Worst-Case Scenario With Key Injury
By Jovan Alford
The Carolina Panthers have big plans for rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette this season after they traded back into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select him with the No. 32 overall pick.
Legette was the perfect pick for a Panthers’ offense devoid of talent last season at the skill positions and should fit in nicely with Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson. However, the rookie wide receiver has struggled with injuries this offseason, which could throw a wrench into the Panthers’ plans.
The rookie wide receiver missed portions of OTAs due to a hamstring injury, but the hope was that he would be ready for training camp.
Training camp officially began late last month and all signs pointed to Legette being healthy and ready to play. But the former South Carolina wide receiver came down with another injury, which isn’t as serious as it could’ve been.
Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reported Sunday that Legette dealt with a lower leg injury in practice and didn’t finish. According to Kaye, Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t have much info about the injury but did say it wasn’t related to Legette’s hamstring injury.
Xavier Legette dealt with a lower leg injury in practice and didn’t finish. Canales said he didn’t have more info.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) August 4, 2024
Canales said it wasn’t related to his OTA hamstring injury. #Panthers
Kaye posted another update later on Sunday, which should put Panthers fans at ease. Kaye said that the rookie wide receiver had an MRI that ruled out a fracture in his foot. However, he’s considered day-to-day.
#Panthers WR Xavier Legette had an MRI that ruled out a fracture in his foot, per league source.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) August 4, 2024
He’s considered day-to-day.
The Panthers must be taking a huge sigh of relief as Legette is the explosive playmaker they missed last season.
Even though Carolina traded for Johnson, the team believes Legette can be a star and create those big plays in the passing game, which he did in his final season at South Carolina. But he must stay healthy for those big-play opportunities to come to fruition.
With Legette being day-to-day, this is a prime opportunity for Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. to continue to make their case with the first-team offense. Legette has reportedly been working with the second-team offense, while the two former second-round picks have been practicing with the first-team.
This is a pivotal offseason and preseason for Mingo and Marshall Jr. to show they can be playmakers in Dave Canales’ offense.
More Panthers news and analysis:
feed