Chris Brazzell (knee) expected to miss eight weeks

Brazzell was initially expected to avoid surgery and instead rehab the “moderate LCL tear in his left knee.” After getting a second opinion, the player and team decided surgery was the “best option” for the rookie’s long-term health. According to Person, Brazzell was expected to challenge WR Xavier Legette for the No. 3 role, while also potentially allowing WR Tetairoa McMillan to line up in the slot more often. The latter storyline is worth tracking. Hopefully, the plan remains in place and Brazzell makes a full recovery ahead of the 2027 season. We expect him to be placed on injured reserve soon.

Brazell, the 83rd overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, missed a couple recent practices in knee soreness. Canales said the team’s training staff is looking into the injury. A field stretcher in college, Brazell would likely be a situational player in Carolina if he’s fully healthy to begin the regular season. He should remain on waiver wires, however.

Legette, who faded into WR3/4 territory last season in the run-heavy Carolina offense, has appeared more interested in the details of being a professional wide receiver over the past few months, according to Young and head coach Dave Canales. “[Legette] is putting in the time in the playbook,” Canales told reporters this week. “He’s busting his butt on the field, working on little technical skills.” Legette had a meager 35 receptions for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season. He’ll remain a potential trade candidate this summer after the Panthers selected Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell in the third round of the 2026 draft.

Legette is facing stiff competition for work entering training camp after the Panthers drafted Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell in the third round of this year’s draft. Legette lost the WR2 job to Jalen Coker midway through last season, and caught just 35 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last season. Legette has a good combination of size and speed on the outside, but the fact that he was a late-career breakout in college suggested he could face an uphill battle to make an immediate impact at the next level. Legette is unlikely to have any redraft value in 2026, even if he can hold on to WR3 duties through training camp.

The path of least resistance is that Legette cleans up “some of the things that have slowed his development” and makes the wideout rotation. But, Person posits, if he isn’t in the rotation, it would make him a possible trade candidate. Two years into his career, the Panthers have drafted a wideout in Day 1 or 2 after both seasons and have happily given Jalen Coker work over Legette. He’s not a fantasy factor at the moment.

Brazzell (6’4/198) was initially recruited to Tulane, where he broke out with 711 yards and five scores as a sophomore. That season put him on Tennessee’s radar via the portal. After transferring, Brazzell played a rotational role for a year before stepping up as the Vols’ top option. As a senior, he went for 1,017 yards and nine scores — both of which led the team — on 65 grabs. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel pinned Brazzell to the left hash and let him beat opposing corners with his size and 4.37 40-yard dash speed. Brazzell scored six of his touchdowns on throws that traveled 20 or more yards downfield, tying him for the third-most in the country. As we’ve come to expect from Tennessee wideouts, Brazzell wasn’t asked to run a diverse route tree in college. That and his slender build will likely pigeonhole him into stretch Z receiver duties at the next level. Even if that’s his ceiling in the pros, Brazzell could become a premier big-play threat early in his career.

Outside of Legette’s 9/92/1 game against (of course) the Jets in Week 5, the Panthers’ “No. 1 receiver” per Dave Canales’ NFL combine interview did absolutely nothing of fantasy note this season. He cleared 50 yards just one other time and managed receiving yardage totals of 3 yards, one yard, zero yards, and minus-2 yards (on eight targets!) in four of his 15 games. Legette’s fantasy stock in 2026 is at “A Chipmunk Christmas in a thrift store bargain bin” levels.

Legette did not build on a disappointing rookie season — at least statistically — as he finished with just 34 catches for 363 yards despite playing in 16 games. You can’t completely give up on him as a dynasty option, but there hasn’t been much to suggest he’s on the right track. There’s still a chance he could play in the postseason, however, if the Falcons beat the Saints.

Legette is WR3 on the Panthers’ pass-catching hierarchy, tying TE Mitchell Evans for fourth on the team in targets. He had an early drop and made his only catch of the game in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half. Legette should remain off fantasy radars moving forward.

Legette was very briefly involved on a few plays during the Panthers’ fourth drive, producing a big gain on a corner route after WR Tetairoa McMillan fell over, which may have jumbled the defensive backs’ coverage assignments. Panthers QB Bryce Young targeted Legette again shortly thereafter, but the throw was late and nearly resulted in an interception. Legette is a zero-floor FLEX against the Buccaneers next week.