Jalen Coker (ankle) remains limited on Thursday

Coker was removed from the Panthers’ final injury report on Friday after logging a full practice to close out the week. Coker was spotted in a walking boot at the start of the week, but downplayed any concern about his injury, saying he rolled his ankle “a little bit” but expected to play against the Falcons. The 24-year-old receiver turned in an impressive 8-138-2 performance on nine targets last week against the Bears and can be viewed as a fringe WR2/WR3 this week.

We’re still waiting on his official game designation, but the upgrade to a full session Friday reinforces previous reports that Coker would be good to go in Week 2 against the Falcons. Fresh off a career game in Week 1, Coker can be safely inserted into fantasy rosters as an upside WR3 in a matchup with a Falcons team with no shortage of injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown was absent again and was ruled out for Week 2.

Coker was wearing a boot after rolling his left ankle in the Panthers’ Week 1 loss against the Bears. Head coach Dave Canales told reporters that the team is confident in ramping him up in practice. The 24-year-old got in a limited practice Wednesday, doing an “extended warm up” on the side and getting a “couple of snaps” on things the Panthers are looking for him to execute. Canales added the “hope is to ramp that up a little bit more tomorrow and then cut them loose Friday. So I expect him to play on Sunday.” Coker’s ankle injury is certainly something to keep an eye on, but Canales and the Panthers are confident he will play in Week 2 against the Falcons.

Coker was seen sporting a boot on his left foot and said he rolled his ankle “a little bit” in Sunday’s loss to the Bears. According to Coker, the injury occurred in the first quarter, which is a good sign since he finished out the game and led all Panthers receivers with 8-138-2 on nine targets. His injury status will be one to watch throughout the week, but it sounds like this is a non-issue heading into Week 2’s game against the Falcons.

It was Coker, not Tetairoa McMillan, who operated as Bryce Young’s No. 1 wideout in this one. Coker was targeted on 21 percent of his routes in out-of-control negative game script while McMillan saw a target on 19 percent of his routes. Coker came down with a 51-yarder in the first half and scored one of his two touchdowns in garbage time. The Carolina offense is not one that will usually produce 40-plus drop backs for Young and all the related pass attempts and air yards. That means it’ll be tough for both McMillan and Coker to put up solid numbers in the same game. But even if McMillan reclaims his WR1 spot next week against the Falcons, Coker should have flex appeal in 12-team formats.

Coker entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He missed Weeks 1-6 with a quad injury last year, but closed the regular season strong, scoring touchdowns in three of the final five games. The Panthers tendered Coker as an exclusive rights free agent earlier this offseason. He was set to make just $1.075 million this season. Per Rapoport, Coker can make up to $41 million via incentives. He is on the WR4/FLEX radar.

Carolina also tendered fellow ERFA Brycen Tremayne. Coker missed time early in the season and struggled to find his footing over the first few months of the season. He picked up momentum down the stretch and ended the season on a high note with a career-high 134 yards and a touchdown on nine catches in the Wild Card Round. Head coach Dave Canales gave him a vote of confidence after the season by calling him the team’s No. 2 receiver. While Carolina’s run-first approach makes Coker a middling fantasy option, keeping him around on a cheap contract as the clear WR2 was an easy call for the Panthers.

It’s not a surprise based on how last season ended — and how Coker blew up in the Wild Card loss to the Rams — but it’s good to get coach validation. Xavier Legette has struggled to grab hold of the role in any real way. While Coker finished the year with just a 33/394/3 line, he makes for an intriguing fantasy WR4/WR5 target in drafts and Best Ball.

Coker did have one previous 100-yard game, against the Cowboys in 2024, but this is a career-high in yardage, catches, and targets for the second-year receiver. He even caught the go-ahead touchdown with a little over two minutes left in the game. Almost makes you think the Panthers should have tried to make him the No. 2 option sometime before the Wild Card game. Coker will get plenty of offseason fantasy helium based on this game, perhaps enough to get him in the WR4 range, but the volume in this passing game could barely support Tetairoa McMillan this year. Two receivers might be a big ask. Coker finished the regular season with a 33/394/3 line in 11 games after missing most of the early part of the season with a hamstring injury.

Coker perfectly timed a leaping catch for a touchdown to get the Panthers to within a score with just over two minutes left in the game. The second-year wideout ended the year with three touchdowns, but all three came in the final five games for those looking for positives. Coker should be more involved in 2026 if healthy — he didn’t play until October 19 — and offers some upside for the coming seasons. His chance to play in the playoffs in 2025 will be determined by whether the Falcons beat the Saints.