Carolina Panthers News

NFC SOUTH

Darren Waller • TE • Panthers

Panthers Easing Darren Waller In

The Carolina Panthers are easing veteran tight end Darren Waller into action, according to Mike Kaye of ESPN.com. Waller signed with the Panthers five days ago, but he hasn't participated in a practice or game yet. Head coach Dave Canales said that he's not expected to get involved in the team's joint practices with the Jaguars that start Wednesday, but he might still get in uniform to participate in drills with quarterback Bryce Young. Waller is now 33 years old, so we're not too surprised that the Panthers are taking things slow and easing him in. His exact role and usage this season are uncertain, but he showed that he was still capable of producing last season, when he caught six touchdown passes across nine games with the Dolphins. He currently ranks as the TE35 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.

23 hours ago

Trevor Etienne • RB • Panthers

Trevor Etienne Flashes Receiving Ability in the Preseason

Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne rushed for seven yards on six attempts while catching all four targets for 18 yards in Saturday's 29-14 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. Etienne led the team in receptions and tied Feleipe Franks and Eliah Cooks with four targets. The 22-year-old has natural hands and has shown flashes in the passing game. However, he started in the Hall of Fame game against Arizona and was limited to 11 total yards. With Jonathon Brooks' injury history and Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) being week-to-week with a hamstring injury, Etienne could have an expanded role if either were to miss any time. The former fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is battling AJ Dillon for Carolina's RB3 spot behind Hubbard and Brooks. Etienne is a dynasty stash for now, but a name to watch in deep-league PPR formats if Hubbard continues to be sidelined with his hamstring issue into the regular season.

2 days ago

Ja'Seem Reed • WR • Panthers

Ja'Seem Reed Makes Case For More Targets After Strong Preseason Showing

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ja'Seem Reed caught all three targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 29-14 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. Kenny Pickett found Reed for a six-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter to put the Panthers on the scoreboard. The 23-year-old has run 35 routes, while catching five of six targets for 47 yards and two touchdowns over Carolina's first two preseason games. Carolina's quarterbacks have a 138.9 passing rating when targeting Reed. With Chris Brazzell III (knee) out for the season, Reed has had a strong preseason and is making a case to be Carolina's WR4 behind Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. He is currently battling John Metchie III and Jimmy Horn Jr. for that spot. Reed is not on the fantasy radar but could be worth stashing in deep dynasty leagues if he continues his strong preseason showing thus far.

2 days ago

Jonathon Brooks • RB • Panthers

Jonathon Brooks Runs with Starting Lineup on Saturday

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks started in Saturday's 29-14 preseason loss against the Buffalo Bills and struggled to find any running room. Brooks rushed for five yards on three attempts while catching one pass for nine yards on Saturday. He logged seven of nine snaps with the first-team offense and was targeted once on three routes run. The 23-year-old had trouble finding running room as the offensive line struggled to open any lanes for him, as he averaged a measly 1.7 yards per carry. While the Panthers offense looked sluggish on Saturday, the good news is that Brooks looked healthy, as it was his first NFL snap he played since December 8, 2024. Brooks could see a heavy workload early on as Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) is week-to-week and likely questionable for Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Brooks has been a trendy name whose fantasy stock has risen with a strong training camp. He is steadily becoming a running back to target in the middle rounds at his current Yahoo Fantasy ADP of 77 and is ranked 91st overall in the latest RotoBaller rankings.

3 days ago

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker Lining Up for Third-Year Breakout in 2026

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker is coming off a stellar finish to the 2025 season after starting on the PUP list with a quad injury. Coker hauled in 33 of 43 targets for 394 yards and three touchdowns in just 11 games, averaging 6.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He turned it up late last season, recording 28 receptions for 378 yards and four touchdowns over his final six games. The third-year receiver is looking to emerge even further in 2026, with a fully healthy training camp and preseason. Currently ranked WR52, Coker offers upside as a young, talented receiver with a strong connection to quarterback Bryce Young.

4 days ago

Ja'Tavion Sanders • TE • Panthers

Ja'Tavion Sanders Might Have to Battle to Keep his Job

ESPN's Mike Kaye writes that Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders "might need to battle to keep his job" in Carolina after the addition of veteran Darren Waller on a one-year deal on Wednesday. Sanders has struggled with ankle injuries over the last two seasons and had surgery for his most recent ankle injury last season. The Panthers kept Sanders, Mitchell Evans, Tommy Tremble, and James Mitchell on their 53-man roster in 2025, but with Waller now on board, a dynamic shift could be coming to the team's TE room. Evans and Tremble are traditional TEs, with Waller and Sanders primarily pass-catchers. The 34-year-old Waller will become the oldest non-specialist on the roster when he officially signs. Kaye observes that the Panthers entered Wednesday with just three non-specialists over 30 years old. Feleipe Franks is also held in high regard for his contributions on special teams, which could push Sanders off the roster at the end of the preseason.

5 days ago

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard Considered Week-to-Week With Hamstring Injury

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring injury in training camp and is considered week-to-week, head coach Dave Canales told Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Rico Dowdle is out of town in 2026, which set up Hubbard to lead Carolina's backfield. However, a hamstring injury could potentially threaten the 27-year-old's availability for the start of the 2026 regular season, which means that RB2 Jonathon Brooks, who has played in just three games in the NFL since entering the league in 2024 due to two torn ACLs, will become much more interesting as a breakout candidate in 2026. After his first 1,000-yard season with the Panthers in 2024, Hubbard rushed for only 511 yards and one touchdown on 134 carries last year while losing out on work to Dowdle, who was the much more efficient and explosive back. Hubbard still has time to get ready for Week 1 in September, but his hamstring injury will certainly make him a riskier RB3/flex option in upcoming fantasy football drafts.

5 days ago

Xavier Legette • WR • Panthers

Xavier Legette Having Strong Training Camp

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette is having a strong camp as he enters an important 2026 season. After a sophomore season marred by critical mistakes, Legette is in great shape and appears to have sharpened his connection with quarterback Bryce Young. The former 32nd overall pick had 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season, but his snap count dropped significantly toward the end of the season. While the team appeared poised to replace him with third-round pick Chris Brazzell III (knee), the Panthers' rookie wideout suffered an LCL injury that required season-ending surgery, opening the door for Legette to play a role in 2026. While he will remain behind 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan and emerging wideout Jalen Coker, Legette may still have a role in deeper fantasy leagues this season.

5 days ago

Darren Waller • TE • Panthers

Darren Waller Reaches Agreement With Panthers on One-Year Deal

Former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller and the Carolina Panthers reached an agreement on Wednesday on an undisclosed one-year deal, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Waller, 33, will join a TE room in Carolina that already includes Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans. The former sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech came out of retirement (after not playing in 2024) to play in nine games last year with the Miami Dolphins, catching 24 of 34 targets for 283 yards and six touchdowns. At 6-foot-6 and 238 pounds, Waller has always been a problem for defenses in the red zone, and he has 26 total touchdown catches in his nine years in the NFL. However, injuries were an issue for most of his career, and he missed time in 2025 with hip, groin, and pectoral issues. It's unclear right now how much of a role Waller will have with the Panthers, but his addition cannot be good news for Sanders' fantasy value. At best, Waller will be a touchdown-dependent, TE2 option in two-TE leagues in 2026 if he can actually stay on the field.

5 days ago

Jonathon Brooks • RB • Panthers

Jonathon Brooks Will Play in Preseason Opener

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Jonathon Brooks will play in the team's second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, mixing in with Chuba Hubbard, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. It will be Brooks' first game played since his rookie season in 2024 after he didn't play in last week's Hall of Fame game and missed the entire 2025 campaign due to another torn ACL in his knee. Rico Dowdle is no longer in Carolina's backfield, and while Hubbard is the team's clear RB1, Brooks is expected to have a significant RB2/change-of-pace role in Canales' offense this year. The former second-rounder from the University of Texas has only played in three games in the NFL, so it's hard to know what to expect from him if he can finally stay healthy. Brooks has looked good this summer, though, and he's an intriguing handcuff option/RB3/flex target with upside if Hubbard gets injured or struggles again in 2026.

6 days ago

Haynes King • QB • Panthers | Taysom Hill • QB

Haynes King Could Have Taysom Hill-Type Role

Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King could have a unique role in the offense once he returns from his hamstring injury. Adam Schefter said Monday that King is going to have a role this season and that it would not surprise him if Carolina used the undrafted rookie in a Taysom Hill-type capacity. The idea has been discussed before, with King saying during rookie minicamp that he would be willing to handle that kind of assignment if the Panthers asked him to. His athleticism certainly fits the concept after he rushed for 953 yards and 15 touchdowns at Georgia Tech last season. King also showed it during the Hall of Fame Game, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards and the game-winning score against Arizona. He suffered a hamstring injury in that game and is considered week-to-week, so any experimentation with a specialty package will have to wait until he is healthy.

Aug 10

Xavier Legette • WR • Panthers

Xavier Legette Returns to Practice

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (neck) was back at practice on Sunday after suffering a stinger while hauling in a touchdown catch and leaving Tuesday's practice on a cart. The third-year player was a full participant in what was one of the more intense sessions of the summer, according to team reporter Kassidy Hill. With 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II (knee) already ruled out for the entirety of his rookie season after tearing his LCL in the early days of training camp, Legette's presence becomes all the more important as the potential third receiver alongside Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. Head coach Dave Canales has indicated that he will play his starters in Saturday's next preseason matchup with the Bills, and barring any setbacks, Legette, who is RotoBaller's WR109, should be a part of that group.

Aug 10

Trevor Etienne • RB • Panthers

Trevor Etienne Unproductive in Hall of Fame Game

In his first game action of the 2026 season, Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne had four carries for 12 yards and one reception for a loss of one yard in the 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday. Etienne was unable to show out, while running backs A.J. Dillon (36 yards and a touchdown on four attempts) and undrafted free agent Miles Davis (four carries for 53 yards) did. Whoever the third-stringer is will work behind starters Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks in 2026, so it's hard to fathom Etienne having any fantasy value. Fantasy managers who have him in either redraft or dynasty leagues should consider dropping him for a better option with more upside.

Aug 9

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Bryce Young Will Play in Preseason Game Against Buffalo

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that the starters, including quarterback Bryce Young, will play in the team's preseason game this week against the Buffalo Bills, according to Panthers reporter Kassidy Hill. Young and the starters should get around 10 to 20 plays, depending on how the drives develop. The 25-year-old Young didn't take part in the team's Hall of Fame game last Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals, so he'll see his first preseason action this week. The former first overall pick in 2023 from the University of Alabama had the best year of his career in his third season in 2025, completing 63.6% of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts while leading the team to the NFC South title. However, it's debatable as to how much higher a ceiling Young has, especially since he doesn't have a big arm or very exciting targets outside of receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Young appears to be trending towards being a solid NFL starting QB, but for fantasy purposes, he's more of a low-end QB2 target with a low ceiling.

Aug 9

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan's Increased Slot Role Could Fuel Breakout Season

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is entering his second NFL season after winning the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. McMillan hauled in 70 of 122 targets for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging just over 10 half-PPR fantasy points per game. With head coach Dave Canales expecting to use McMillan more in the slot in 2026, the young receiver could see an increased workload this season. McMillan scored 74% of his fantasy points from the outside last season and would face tougher cornerback matchups and a less diverse route tree if he stayed out wide. His slot role is just noise for now, but it could be the difference between him being a low-end WR2 and a top-10 wideout in 2026.

Aug 9

John Metchie III • WR • Panthers

John Metchie III a Candidate for WR3 Job in Carolina

Carolina Panthers wide receiver John Metchie III, who is with his fourth different NFL team in 2026 in a little more than 11 months, had a 19-yard rush and a 36-yard kick return in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. With rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) already ruled out for the 2026 season, The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye suggests that Metchie has a real shot to compete for the WR3 role this year in Carolina behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The 26-year-old's primary competition will be Xavier Legette, a former first-rounder who has disappointed in his first two years in the NFL. If Metchie makes more noise in training camp and the preseason, he could have a role in the slot with the Panthers, although it wouldn't generate enough volume for the former second-rounder from Alabama to be much more than a bench stash in deeper redraft formats. In 16 games with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans in 2025, Metchie had career highs with 33 catches, 274 yards, and two touchdowns on 48 targets.

Aug 7

Xavier Legette • WR • Panthers

Dave Canales Says Xavier Legette is "Back" From Injury

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Xavier Legette (neck) "feels great" and is "back," according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers held Legette out of the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night as a precaution, but it sounds like he could be ready to return to practice soon after being carted off due to a neck stinger earlier this week. The health of Legette is pretty important now after rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) was already ruled out for the entire 2026 season. The 25-year-old former 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft from South Carolina is now considered the favorite to hold WR3 duties behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, although that role probably won't afford Legette enough volume to be taken seriously by fantasy managers in standard-sized 12-team leagues. Legette has been a disappointment in his first two years in the league, and he caught only 35 passes on 64 targets for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 regular-season games in his sophomore campaign.

Aug 7

Ja'Tavion Sanders • TE • Panthers

Ja'Tavion Sanders Suffers Ankle Injury on Tuesday

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) left Tuesday's training camp practice with an ankle injury, but head coach Dave Canales said he had a great day, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. It doesn't sound like Sanders suffered a serious injury, but we'll keep an eye on his status moving forward. The 23-year-old former fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft from the University of Texas had a disappointing sophomore campaign in 2025, playing in only 13 regular-season games while catching 29 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown. Sanders had a 33-342-1 line in 16 games as a rookie, so he hasn't exactly moved the needle much in fantasy football early in his NFL career. Going into Year 3, Sanders is expected to be Carolina's primary pass-catching TE, but he also has to contend with both Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans. The Panthers' offense just hasn't relied enough on the TE position to make Sanders matter in most fantasy football leagues. Sanders is outside of RotoBaller's top-41 rankings at the position for 2026.

Aug 4

Jonathon Brooks • RB • Panthers

Jonathon Brooks Won't Play in Hall of Fame Game

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that running back Jonathon Brooks will not play in Canton, Ohio, in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game versus the Arizona Cardinals, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers aren't planning on playing their starters to open the preseason slate, and it makes all the sense in the world not to put Brooks in harm's way when considering his history of knee injuries. The 23-year-old former second-rounder in 2024 from the University of Texas has played in only three games for the Panthers due to two torn ACLs. The Texas native is fully healthy this summer, though, and heads into his third NFL campaign as the favorite for change-of-pace duties behind Chuba Hubbard in Carolina. Hubbard will most likely continue to serve as the team's RB1, but Brooks has been impressive so far in camp and could cut into his overall touches, making him an intriguing late-round flier at the position, especially if you have Hubbard rostered. RotoBaller has Brooks ranked as the No. 40 fantasy RB for 2026.

Aug 4

Xavier Legette • WR • Panthers

Xavier Legette Suffers a Stinger, Won't Play in Hall of Fame Game

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Tuesday that wide receiver Xavier Legette (neck) suffered a stinger in training camp practice and isn't dealing with a concussion, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Legette will not play in Thursday's Hall of Fame preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, but he's expected to return to the practice field next week. It doesn't sound like the Panthers are worried about Legette's availability for the 2026 regular-season opener in early September, which is good news, considering rookie wideout Chris Brazzell II (knee) is already out for the season. As long as Legette doesn't pick up any more injuries, he figures to be the favorite for WR3 duties to begin the 2026 season in Carolina behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. The 25-year-old from South Carolina hasn't lived up to expectations after the Panthers took him 32nd overall in 2024, as Legette has recorded 84 catches for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in 31 games (25 starts) in his two seasons. He had a 35-363-3 line in 15 games in 2025, which was a step back from his rookie numbers. Fantasy managers in typical 12-team leagues should be avoiding Legette in drafts.

Aug 4

Carolina Panthers News

LEGEND