Panthers WR Xavier Legette injured, carted off the field. What his coach said
Xavier Legette made a great catch on Tuesday morning.
And then, for a few minutes, he didn’t get off the ground.
The Carolina Panthers’ third-year wide receiver took a nasty tumble after hauling in a touchdown reception on a deep fade ball from quarterback Bryce Young. Legette made the catch over defensive back Cam Miller — who was covering him well on this 7-on-7 rep — and then appeared to land hard on his side and part of his head.
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While the offense celebrated the splash play, Legette lay on the ground. The music stopped. Young and tight end Tommy Tremble kneeled beside him, appearing to pray. Four trainers gathered around him, asking him to move his fingers, toes, legs and arms.
The 6-foot-3, 221-pound wideout from the University of South Carolina then proceeded to lift himself off the ground on his own power, climbed into the front seat of the cart and was whisked away — appearing alert and in good spirits.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters after the practice that Legette successfully cleared his concussion test, but he did sustain an injury that might keep him sidelined for a little bit.
“We went in and evaluated him and cleared him of a concussion,” Canales said. “But it looks like a stinger, so we’re going to evaluate him more over the next day or so to make sure he’s in the right spot.”
Canales added that “we have a nice little window here” for Legette’s recovery because the Panthers didn’t plan on playing starters in their first preseason contest — the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Panthers’ next practice will be Sunday. Their second preseason contest is Aug. 15, at Highmark Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. Canales has not indicated whether starters will play there.
It’s not the worst thing to hear, but is still difficult for the Panthers. Legette, after a difficult 2025, is in the best shape of his NFL career to date — down 7 to 10 pounds from his playing weight a year ago. He’s also successfully “bulletproofed” his hamstrings, he said, eliminating the soft-tissue injuries that plagued his first few preseasons in the pros.
It’s also tough from another perspective: The team has been plagued with injuries thus far this preseason — from the two season-ending injuries with OLB Nic Scourton and rookie WR Chris Brazzell, to the other minor ones, like starting left guard Damien Lewis’ calf injury that just won’t go away.
Legette has a lot of responsibility particularly on him now that Brazzell — the team’s third-round pick and speedster and deep threat — is out for the year. Legette’s teammate, Jalen Coker, said that Legette has been “balling” all summer.
Said Canales of Legette last week: “We have big plans for him. He’s got big plans for himself.”
With Legette’s short-term health status is up in the air, the Panthers will need to turn to someone else.
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Fortunately, there’s another wideout who’s been shining all camp:
Ja’seem Reed.
The second-year wide receiver, who spent 2025 on the Panthers’ practice squad after a short stint with the Cleveland Browns, has been balling this summer — no matter who has been throwing him the ball.
He and backup quarterback Kenny Pickett might’ve furnished the play of training camp a few weeks ago, when Pickett lofted a 30-yard pass that Reed came down with despite having three defenders draped over him.
Another catch on Tuesday might have supplanted that highlight, even: Reed hauled in a diving catch in the back of the end zone off a well-timed throw from Pickett in 11-on-11 work.
Last week, Canales said that Reed is “really making a case for himself right now” to make the team, adding that he can play anywhere: in the slot or on the outside.
Tuesday, certain Panthers were even more effusive.
“He does the right things, he’s where he’s supposed to be when he’s supposed to be there,” Canales said. “Those things go so far in the quarterback room, first and foremost. The guys talk about it. They’re looking to throw him the ball. That’s a really good thing. I love where Ja’seem’s at.”
He added: “Again, just continuing to push him on the special teams front, too, because all of our guys are going to be asked to help in different ways. But I’m really pleased where he’s at right now. Just every day, gotta take one more step.”
When asked if Reed will get a lot of playing time Thursday, Canales said resolutely: “I hope so.”
The wide receiver room was a discussion point coming into camp. Will Canales decide to keep seven receivers again? Does he keep six if the team wants to retain third-string quarterback Haynes King? (King was not coy about what’s at stake for him during Thursday’s preseason game; it’s an audition not only to make Carolina’s 53-man roster, but also for the rest of the NFL.)
And if Canales does keep six, who are they? Tetairoa McMillan, Coker and Legette — his current injury status notwithstanding — are understood locks. Then it’s likely special teams ace Brycen Tremayne … and a selection of Jimmy Horn Jr., John Metchie, David Moore and Reed, among others.
Pickett knows such a decision will be difficult based on how the receivers — particularly Reed — have played this summer.
“Bryce put a throwing trip together in Arizona, spent some time together, and I saw it in the spring,” Pickett said of Reed. “You just kind of know when a guy has it, and he does. He works really hard. Understands each route concept and how he can get open and what his job is. And he just goes out there, and he executes at a really high level.”
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This story was originally published August 4, 2026 at 12:28 PM.
