Panthers WR Xavier Legette texted Bryce Young to apologize for dropped ball in Week 12

Panthers WR Xavier Legette took accountability for what could’ve been a disastrous missed opportunity in Week 12.

While a fellow rookie receiver made headlines for pointing the finger elsewhere on Sunday, Carolina Panthers wideout Xavier Legette has pointed one at himself.

Albeit a valiant and closely-contested effort, yesterday’s 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs included a few follies from the Panthers—including this . . .

The drop wiped out what would have been about a 33-yard gain on a must-score drive late in the fourth quarter. But luckily, Legette’s mistake didn’t stop Young and the Panthers from eventually reaching the end zone to tie the contest up.

Nevertheless, Legette told reporters on Monday about how he took accountability for the missed opportunity . . .

Legette finished the outing with 56 yards on four grabs.

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Carolina is thriving on offense behind three rookies

The Carolina Panthers offense is perking up and the play of three rookie pass-catchers is a big reason why

Two wins in a row have not come easy for a Carolina Panthers team that has looked like a rock-bottom team for much of the season, but much of the credit for the winning streak must come from a trio of rookies that have made Bryce Young’s life a little easier in this Carolina offense.

 

Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Ja’Tavion Sanders have been the top receiving options within this Panthers offense and they have thrived without Adam Thielen or the now traded Diontae Johnson on the field. While the offense isn’t blowing anyone out of the water, it has proved to be sustainable over a three game stretch and seems to be clicking now more than ever behind their young quarterback.

 

All three of these rookies continue to impress and find themselves in the top ten of rookie receiving numbers on the season so far. Coker, in particular, has impressed as an undrafted free agent, suddenly performing like a seasoned pro and being a serious outlet for Young. With veteran Adam Thielen making his way back from an injury soon, this Carolina team could continue to get better and defy expectations of being a bottom-feeding team. The Kansas City Chiefs are next up on the schedule, and if Carolina can manage to make their offense work against that stingy defense, they may just have set themselves up for years to come.

What trading Jonathan Mingo means for the Panthers

The Panthers didn’t take long to move on from 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo.

Although the vibes have improved following a feel-good upset win in Week 9, the 2-7 Carolina Panthers decided to offload one of their players on Tuesday.

Second-year wideout Jonathan Mingo was shipped away to the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the league’s trade deadline this afternoon. Mingo, the second receiver to be traded by Carolina over the last week, and a 2025 seventh-round pick will head to Dallas in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft, Mingo has yet to score a touchdown in his pro career. He tallied 43 catches for 418 yards in his rookie campaign and has dropped off in his second, as he’s totaled 12 catches for 121 yards in an increasingly decreased role.

Mingo’s work over his first two seasons has been inconsistent, as the former Ole Miss standout has fallen short of expectations. Despite having an intriguing athletic profile—he’s struggled with situational and spatial awareness and never carved out a distinct role in Carolina.

Trading Mingo is an indication that general manager and president of football operations Dan Morgan is trying to move away from the underperforming players his predecessor, Scott Fitterer, brought in. This is a clear sign the front office is doing its best to establish its own culture and viability when it comes to building its roster.

Unfortunately, Mingo was one of Fitterer’s underperforming investments. Per the 33rd Team, he averaged 0.75 yards per route run—which ranks dead-last (526th out of 526) amongst wide receivers since 2000.

Morgan’s refreshed vision will seemingly include rookie wide receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, both of whom had overtaken Mingo in the pecking order. The former has scored four touchdowns over the last six weeks while the latter has emerged as a reliable and versatile option.

So now, the Panthers can continue to focus in on the development of the worthwhile youngsters. In addition to Legette and Coker, the remaining weeks of the 2024 season should give the organization more looks at quarterback Bryce Young and rookie running back Jonathon Brooks.

The process goes on.

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WATCH: Shemar Jean-Charles rips the ball away for a must-see interception

WATCH: Saints corner Shemar Jean-Charles rips the ball away from Panthers wideout Xavier Legette for a must-see interception in his first start:

The New Orleans Saints’ defense picked up late in their game with the Carolina Panthers, especially on this play as Shemar Jean-Charles ripped the ball away from rookie Xavier Legette for an interception. Legette had all but caught and tucked away the pass, but Jean-Charles was able to get his hands between the ball and the receiver, pulling the ball away for himself instead and giving the Saints possession back.

In a game where the cornerback group is pretty much completely new aside from Alontae Taylor due to injuries, they needed someone to step up if they were to have a chance on defense. The preseason standout Jean-Charles was one such player, making an exceptional play on the defensive end in his first career start.

Bryce Young throwing an interception on a perfect pass is a tragic symbol of his Panthers career

Bryce Young genuinely has the worst luck.

Over the past few weeks, after a tough start to the season, Bryce Young has had a chance to re-solidify himself as the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback of the future. His teammates, unfortunately, do not seem all that interested in helping the quarterback when he puts them in a position to succeed.

With the Panthers battling the rival New Orleans Saints in a tight division game, Young uncorked an absolutely beautiful pass to rookie playmaker Xavier Legette downfield. It should’ve been a big-time completion for the Panthers created by the person who may well still save their franchise.

Instead, Saints cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles made a terrific play to rip the ball out of Legette’s arms. This, naturally, somehow counts as an interception for Young.

What a cruel twist and a perfect symbol for how the Panthers have failed Young in his early career so far:

At the very least, Young helped Carolina capture a surprising 23-22 win over the Saints. You just wish he wouldn’t have the worst luck on actual remarkable plays he makes.

Panthers Week 9 inactives: WR Xavier Legette active vs. Saints

The Panthers will have their first-round pick in today’s clash with the Saints.

There was little doubt, but the Carolina Panthers will indeed have their first-round wideout on the field this afternoon.

As expected, rookie receiver Xavier Legette is active for the team’s Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The 23-year-old was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report due to a toe issue.

Legette is tied for the team-lead in touchdown receptions (three) with Diontae Johnson, who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the week. The Panthers, in return, agreed to a late-round pick swap for the 2025 NFL draft.

Carolina will, however, be without left tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Ekwonu will miss the first game of his NFL career due to an ankle injury.

Here is the full list of inactives on the day for the Panthers:

  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • LT Ikem Ekwonu
  • TE Feleipe Franks
  • OLB DJ Johnson
  • S Jammie Robinson
  • TE Tommy Tremble

And for the visiting Saints:

  • LB Jaylan Ford
  • CB Marshon Lattimore
  • CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
  • CB Rico Payton
  • QB Spencer Rattler (Emergency QB)
  • DT John Ridgeway III
  • RB Jamaal Williams

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Saints announce inactive players for Week 9 game vs. Panthers

Injuries in the Saints’ cornerback room highlight the inactive players in Week 9. Here’s who will be sitting this one out for both teams:

Injuries took a toll on the New Orleans Saints cornerback room going into the Carolina Panthers matchup. Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry were ruled out on Friday due to injury. McKinstry suffered his injury during practice. Lattimore exited a game with a hamstring for the second time this season

Kendre Miller and Bub Means are also dealing with injuries, but they aren’t on the inactive players because they’re on injured reserve. Jamaal Williams was also listed as doubtful.

No Miller. No Williams. Expect the typical heavy dosage of Alvin Kamara.

The Panthers will be without Adam Thielen, but Xavier Legette is available to Bryce Young. Offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu is out after leaving last week’s game with an ankle injury. Young’s supporting cast being at less than full strength will impact an already struggling offense.

This is a rematch from the season opener. The Saints trampled the Panthers and started the Saints hype train. Fast forward to Week 9 and these teams have the two longest losing streaks in the NFL.

Here is the full list of inactive players in Saints versus Panthers:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring)
  • CB Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring)
  • CB Rico Payton (back)
  • RB Jamaal Williams (groin)
  • DT John Ridgeway (oblique)
  • LB Jaylan Ford
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency quarterback)

Carolina Panthers inactive players:

  • LT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle)
  • TE Felipe Franks (concussion)
  • S Jammie Robinson (knee)
  • CB Shemar Bartholomew
  • OLB DJ Johnson
  • TE Tommy Tremble

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Is Xavier Legette playing today? Saints vs. Panthers injury update

Xavier Legette is dealing with an injury suffered in practice, but is expected to be the focal point of the Panthers’ passing attack against the Saints:

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette is expected to play in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints, per FOX Sport’s Jordan Schultz. Legette’s became in jeopardy when appeared on the injury report Thursday with a toe injury.

Dionte Johnson is the Panthers’ leading receiver on the season. The thing is he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week. That makes Legette the leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns among players still on the Panthers roster.

There is no other receiver on the team with multiple touchdowns or over 200 yards. Legette is still looking to get his feet underneath him in his rookie season, but the importance of his development and presence to the Panthers’ passing game is clear when looking at the rest of the roster.

As the Saints prepare to stall out a stagnant Panthers passing attack, the focal point is the rookie receiver. He hasn’t had a big game, but he was still a first round pick this year. If Legette has a breakout game this year, it wouldn’t be shocking. The Saints just need to make sure that game doesn’t happen against them.

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Panthers receiving corps as riddled with injuries as Saints secondary

Alontae Taylor is the only one of the Saints’ top cornerbacks healthy this week, and Carolina is depending on a WR who was hurt in practice:

The passing game will be an interesting battle to watch when the Carolina Panthers have the ball against the New Orleans Saints. This game will feature a banged up Saints secondary versus a depleted Panthers wide receiver corps.

Paulson Adebo’s season is over with a broken femur suffered in Week 7. Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry are both out with hamstring injuries this week. That leaves Alontae Taylor as the only piece of the core cornerbacks who will play Sunday.

Xavier Legette is the only wide receiver of note available to Bryce Young. Adam Thielen is doubtful and Diontae Johnson was shipped off to the Ravens. Even Legette, who is expected to play, was added to the injury report midweek with a toe injury.

Carolina has struggled to throw the ball this year with Young or Andy Dalton. This would be normally be an easy matchup for the Saints secondary. With all the injuries, it’s difficult to project how they’ll perform.

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