Carolina Panthers News

NFC SOUTH

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Breakout Season Could be Coming if Jalen Coker Stays Healthy

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker's stats in his first two NFL seasons don't stand out. He has produced 65 catches on 89 targets for 872 yards and five touchdowns in 22 regular-season games. The 24-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross has played in exactly 11 games in each of his first two years in the NFL due to injuries. A quad ailment was the reason he didn't debut in 2025 until Week 7. It took Coker a little while to get in the groove, but once he did, he was essentially Carolina's WR2 behind impressive rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. In the last five games of the regular season, Coker had 19 grabs for 244 yards and three touchdowns, and he stepped up in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams for a 9-134-1 line. If Coker can finally stay healthy in 2026, he has the potential for a Year 3 breakout as the Panthers' WR2.

Yesterday

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan Set to Build on Encouraging Rookie Season

Across 17 games in 2025, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan recorded 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 targets. The number eight overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, McMillan established himself as the number one wide receiver in Carolina right away as a rookie. The 22-year-old also closed the season strong, recording five of his seven touchdown catches from Week 11 onwards. Heading into 2026, McMillan should have the benefit of stability in Carolina. The Panthers made the playoffs in 2025 for the first time since 2017 and figure to retain both quarterback Bryce Young and play-calling head coach Dave Canales. Carolina struggled to find reliable pass-catchers outside of McMillan in 2025, so the team could look to bring in additional talent. However, any potential additions seem unlikely to unseat McMillan as the option in the pass game. All in all, McMillan profiles as a fantasy wide receiver on the rise in both dynasty and redraft formats after his strong rookie season.

Yesterday

Ikem Ekwonu • OT • Panthers

Ikem Ekwonu Undergoes Knee Surgery

Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee) underwent surgery on his right knee this week to fix a ruptured patellar tendon that he suffered in last weekend's Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. Orthopedist David Chao predicted that Ekwonu will miss the start of next season and might not be fully recovered until 2027. The Panthers already exercised Ekwonu's fifth-year option, guaranteeing the former sixth overall pick in 2022 $17.6 million for 2026. Contract-extension talks with the organization will now take a back seat to the 25-year-old's recovery. Ekwonu's knee will be immobilized for four to six weeks. There's a possibility that Ekwonu will be ready to play again in October, but he might not be back to his normal self until the start of the 2027 season for the Panthers' offensive line.

Jan 16

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Panthers Non-Committal on Bryce Young Extension

Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan was non-committal on Tuesday when asked if the team is considering a contract extension for quarterback Bryce Young, according to David Newton of ESPN. "We're still talking through the roster. It's up in the air, and we're still working through it," Morgan said. Young had the best season of his young career in 2025, setting career highs in completion percentage (63.6%), passing yards (3,011), and touchdown passes (23) while throwing 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts. The 24-year-old former first overall pick in 2023 led the Panthers to their first postseason appearance since 2018. The Panthers are expected to pick up Young's fifth-year option, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they hold off on a long-term extension until after the 2026 season.

Jan 13

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard Scores a Pair of Touchdowns in Season-Ending Loss

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard tallied 13 carries, 46 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He also caught two of four targets for an additional 13 receiving yards. Hubbard lost his lead-back role to Rico Dowdle during the middle of the season, but he seemed to reclaim his top spot over the final few weeks. As the Panthers were eliminated on Saturday, Hubbard registered 15 touches while Dowdle had just six. Dowdle is an impending free agent, so Hubbard should be a fringe top-24 fantasy running back heading into 2026 fantasy football drafts. It's unclear whether Jonathan Brooks (knee) or Trevor Etienne will be able to carve out a role next year.

Jan 12

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker Explodes for 134 Yards as Panthers Fall Short

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught nine of his 12 targets for 134 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Wild Card loss against the Los Angeles Rams. Coker stepped up as Bryce Young's favorite target as the former No. 1 pick attempted 40 passes in the Panthers' comeback effort. The Panthers' effort, fueled by a career-best game from Coker, was admirable, but it came up short against a Rams team that dropped 14 points early. Coker has a chance to enter the 2026 season as Carolina's No. 2 wide receiver behind Tetairoa McMillan and ahead of Xavier Legette. We can't rule out the possibility of Carolina adding another quality pass-catcher during the offseason, though.

Jan 12

Ikem Ekwonu • OT • Panthers

Ikem Ekwonu Suffers Ruptured Patellar Tendon in Wild-Card Round

Carolina Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee) was forced to exit early from his team's Wild Card Weekend loss to the Los Angeles Rams after suffering a knee injury. According to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Sunday that Ekwonu suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee and will require surgery. While Ekwonu's return timeline is not yet clear, he could be at risk of missing training camp and possibly even the start of the 2026 regular season. Pro Football Focus graded Ekwonu as the 37th-best tackle in the NFL out of 89 qualified players at the position for his work in 2025. With Ekwonu's health in question, the Panthers may need to prioritize acquiring depth at the tackle position over the offseason.

Jan 11

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle Shows Frustration With Lack of Carries

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who will be a free agent in March, said his decreased number of carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Dowdle said he wants to go somewhere "where he can get the bulk of the carries." The 27-year-old was an unquestioned RB1 during the 2025 season when Chuba Hubbard missed time with an injury. However, Dowdle was involved in more of a timeshare late in the year following Hubbard's return, and he watched Hubbard score twice in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had only five rushing attempts for nine yards while adding one catch on two targets for six yards. In the final four regular-season games, Dowdle averaged only 3.3 yards per carry as his role shrank. It sounds as though Dowdle doesn't plan on signing in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to land a lead-back role elsewhere in free agency.

Jan 11

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Bryce Young May Struggle in First Career Playoff Game

Across 16 games in 2025, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completed 63.6% of his pass attempts for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The 24-year-old proved himself to be an effective game manager, but he struggled to produce consistent fantasy production in Carolina's run-heavy offense. Young topped 200 passing yards in just four games during the regular season. The Panthers' offense will face a tough test in the first round of the NFC playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles finished the regular season ranked 11th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.8) and tied for seventh in sacks (47). It's worth noting that Young was highly efficient in the Panthers' Week 13 win over the Rams, completing 15 of 20 pass attempts for 206 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover. However, Carolina leaned heavily into the run game in that matchup with 40 total rush attempts. That could be the game plan again in the playoffs, which would limit Young's opportunities for production. All in all, Young profiles as a difficult quarterback for fantasy managers in playoff leagues to trust against the Rams.

Jan 10

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle Lacks Upside for Wild-Card Matchup

Across 17 games this season, Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle finished with 236 carries for 1,079 yards and six touchdowns while adding 39 catches (50 targets) for 297 yards and another score as a receiver. Dowdle was producing like a top running back in the league early in the season after taking over lead back duties over Chuba Hubbard, but his production had slid down the stretch as Hubbard became more involved. The 27-year-old's efficiency has also dipped significantly in the second half, handling 105 carries for 341 yards (3.2 YPC) since Week 10. He notched only nine touches in the regular season finale, his lowest since Week 8. Dowdle profiles as a borderline RB2/RB3 for Saturday's Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points per game to running backs this season.

Jan 10

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan Profiles as Strong Option for Wild-Card Weekend

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan put together an impressive rookie campaign, finishing with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns while playing all 17 games. McMillan is currently a heavy favorite to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after serving as the engine of Carolina's passing attack. The 22-year-old wideout earned a team high 25.8% target share and recorded at least five receptions in seven games. He caught only one of his two targets in Carolina's Week 13 matchup against the Rams, but he thought it went for a 43-yard touchdown. McMillan is in a good position for a better statistical output in Saturday's rematch, as the Rams have allowed the third-most catches per game (5.4) and third-most yards per game (72.6) to opposing teams' WR1s this season.

Jan 10

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Panthers Expected to Pick Up Bryce Young's Fifth-Year Option

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Carolina Panthers are expected to pick up quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option this offseason. All eight quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall since 2011 have had their fifth-year options exercised. Young has had an up-and-down third season in the league, completing 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions to go with 54 carries for 216 yards and two scores on the ground in 16 games. The 24-year-old signal caller has reached extreme heights, throwing for the fifth-most yards in a game this season with his 448-yard performance in Week 11. However, Young has also thrown for under 200 yards in 12 games. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick will look for more consistency in the future as he aims to establish himself as the Panthers' franchise quarterback.

Jan 10

Jalen Coker • WR • Panthers

Jalen Coker an Intriguing WR2 for Wild-Card Weekend

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker got a late start to the 2025 season while recovering from an injury, but he quickly established himself as the WR2 behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, finishing the regular season with 33 catches on 43 targets for 394 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in 11 games played in his second NFL season. Coker hasn't been flashy by any means and was not a top-50 wideout in terms of half-PPR points per game, but he is rolling into the postseason having scored three times in the last five games. He'll be an interesting low-end WR2 option for fantasy managers against the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend this Saturday. Coker caught four of six targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in the upset win over L.A. on Nov. 30, and the Rams defense allowed the 11th-most half-PPR points per game to opposing receivers during the regular season.

Jan 8

Tommy Tremble • TE • Panthers

Tommy Tremble Set for Bigger Role Going into Playoffs

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble will be the team's top pass-catching tight end going into the playoffs with Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) on Injured Reserve. With Sanders out in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tremble caught three of his four targets for 38 yards and just his second touchdown of the year. The 25-year-old was the team's third leading receiver in the loss to Tampa. In 17 regular-season games with Carolina in 2025, Tremble caught 27 of his 37 targets for 249 yards and two scores. He'll still be more of a dart throw as a TE streamer in fantasy football playoff leagues when the Panthers take on the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend this Saturday. The Rams defense has been in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing TEs this year, and they've allowed the eighth-fewest total yards (775) to the position.

Jan 8

Chuba Hubbard • RB • Panthers

Chuba Hubbard in a Rut Going into Playoffs

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard opened the 2025 season with double-digit carries in his first six games. Since then, he's seen double-digit carries just once in nine games as Rico Dowdle has pretty much taken over as Carolina's lead back. The 26-year-old has 134 carries for 511 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and only one touchdown, adding 30 receptions for 223 yards and three receiving touchdowns on 39 targets. Fantasy managers probably won't have much confidence in Hubbard as an RB2 going into the Wild-Card playoff matchup on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. In the last four games, Hubbard has just 23 carries for 78 yards (3.4 yards per tote) and seven catches for 29 yards. He'll be stuck in a timeshare with Dowdle again this weekend against a Rams defense that allowed just six rushing TDs to RBs during the regular season, the third-fewest in the NFL.

Jan 8

Bryce Young • QB • Panthers

Bryce Young Profiles as Low-End Starting QB for Wild-Card Weekend

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young had a decent showing in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, going 24-for-35 passing for 266 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. It was a nice bounce-back performance after he threw for just 54 yards in the Week 17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old's 266 passing yards were his third-highest total of the year. He'll get a rematch with the Los Angeles Rams on Wild-Card weekend, after upsetting them in Week 13. Young went 15-for-20 that day for 206 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. Can he repeat the feat this Saturday? It's going to be difficult against a Rams defense that allowed the 10th-fewest points per game, although they were around the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed per game to QBs. Young averaged only 15.4 fantasy points per game in 2025, placing him as the QB27. His upside isn't great going into Saturday's Wild-Card matchup.

Jan 8

Tetairoa McMillan • WR • Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan a Strong Receiver in Fantasy Playoff Leagues

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had a fantastic rookie NFL season, with 1,014 receiving yards and 70 receptions on 122 targets. He also scored seven touchdowns and finished as the WR15 on the season. McMillan clearly established himself as the alpha wide receiver for the Panthers over Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. McMillan's inconsistencies in 2025 were largely due to third-year quarterback Bryce Young, who was very inconsistent throughout the season. Additionally, for those playing in playoff fantasy leagues, according to Novig, the Panthers have the worst odds (+6150) to win the NFC and are viewed as a guaranteed one-and-done in the playoffs after winning the NFC South with a sub-.500 record at 8-9. Now, this is the NFL, and anything can happen, but it may be smart to stay away from any Panthers players, even McMillan, who is clearly the best fantasy asset to own on this team. That being said, the matchup for him in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Rams is a good one, as the Rams have been vulnerable to the wide receiver position in the second half of the season. McMillan should have a good game in the first round.

Jan 7

Chandler Zavala • G • Panthers

Chandler Zavala Designated to Return to Practice

The Carolina Panthers opened offensive guard Chandler Zavala's (calf) 21-day practice window on Tuesday, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. Zavala was placed on Injured Reserve on Nov. 29 with a calf injury, his second time on IR in 2025 after originally going on IR in Week 5 due to a knee injury. Zavala started three games for the Panthers after recovering from his knee injury before hurting his calf and going back on the shelf. The 26-year-old offensive lineman can be activated from IR at any time, but it remains to be seen if that will happen before the team's Wild-Card playoff game this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Before injuring his calf, Zavala was starting at right guard for Carolina. With Zavala out, Austin Corbett has started the last four games at the position. Zavala hasn't played since Week 12.

Jan 6

David Moore • WR • Panthers

Panthers Activate David Moore From Injured Reserve

The Carolina Panthers activated wide receiver David Moore (elbow) from Injured Reserve on Tuesday and waived wide receiver Hunter Renfrow in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Moore played in only four games with Carolina to begin the year before suffering a serious elbow injury that landed him on IR in late September. The 30-year-old has been practicing in full for several weeks and now appears ready to contribute as WR depth for the Panthers going into the Wild-Card round of the playoffs this Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Moore will take Renfrow's spot on the active 53-man roster. In his four games played early this season, Moore had just one catch for five yards on one target. If Moore is active this weekend, he'll be a long shot to return any fantasy value in playoff leagues.

Jan 6

Rico Dowdle • RB • Panthers

Rico Dowdle's Upside Hindered by Timeshare in Week 18

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) does not have an injury designation heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dowdle appears to be in a 60-40 timeshare with fellow running back Chuba Hubbard, with the latter seeing the vast majority of third downs over the past three games. The Panthers hosted the Buccaneers in Week 16, and Dowdle was held to just 29 yards from nine rushing attempts, but did earn 14 receiving yards from his four receptions off six targets. Even though Dowdle has been absent on nearly every third down over the last two games, he still managed to earn more targets and run six more routes each game than Hubbard. Dowdle profiles as a low-end RB2 against a middle-of-the-road Buccaneers run defense in the 2025 regular season finale.

Jan 3

Carolina Panthers News

LEGEND