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CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers have moved rookie wide receiver Xavier Legette to injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games, starting with Sunday night's clash against the Detroit Lions. Legette, a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, was already ruled out on Friday with a knee injury and was set to miss his second straight game after getting hurt in the team's Week 2 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
With Legette unavailable, the Panthers' wide receiver corps is thin. Top wideout Jalen Coker is questionable with a quad injury, prompting the team to elevate Ja'seem Reed from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday as a precaution. The remaining receivers on the depth chart include Tetairoa McMillan, John Metchie III, Brycen Tremayne, and David Moore.
Coach Canales Discusses Adjustments
Head coach Dave Canales addressed the situation on Friday, stating, "Well, Ja'seem will come up and help. Last week, we finished the game with Brycen, [he] made a couple of nice plays for us. David Moore also was up catching punts, and he's able to help us out that way. We got Metchie. Metchie will, if Jalen doesn't go -- Metchie's practiced and ready, because Jalen wasn't able to go fully, a couple of the other days. John was able to take some of his reps."
If Reed is active against Detroit, he will make his NFL regular-season debut in prime time. He impressed in the preseason, hauling in seven passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns over three games. Reed originally joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad.
In other injury news, right tackle Monroe Freeling cleared concussion protocol on Saturday and will start against the Lions. He had been listed as questionable. With Freeling's status resolved, Coker and defensive linemen Lee Hunter (foot) and Cam Jackson (knee) remain questionable. Starting left guard Damien Lewis (elbow) was previously ruled out, joining Legette.
Along with Reed, the Panthers elevated veteran cornerback Robert Rochell from the practice squad. Rochell, who spent part of last season and all of this past summer with Carolina, is a known special teams contributor and will provide depth at cornerback. Rookie Will Lee III and journeyman Akayleb Evans are expected to start in place of Jaycee Horn (quad) and Mike Jackson (groin) on Sunday. Chau Smith-Wade is also available at cornerback.
The Panthers have a lengthy injured reserve list ahead of their Week 5 bye. In addition to Legette, Horn, and Jackson, the list includes outside linebacker Nic Scourton (knee), wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (knee), guard Brady Christensen (hamstring), running backs Jonathon Brooks (groin) and Trevor Etienne (ankle), and linebacker Bam Martin-Scott (hamstring). Starting tackles Ikem Ekwonu (patellar tendon) and Taylor Moton (blood clot) are on the physically unable to perform (PUP) and non-football illness (NFI) lists, respectively.
Originally reported by espn.