This is a huge bummer.
Carolina Panthers rookie WR Chris Brazzell won't play in 2026, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.
Brazzell will undergo season-ending surgery on his torn LCL. He suffered the injury on Wednesday at camp.
The Panthers have now lost two players to season-ending injuries since reporting to training camp last week. Outside linebacker Nic Scourton tore his ACL during the team’s first practice.
Carolina selected Brazzell with the 83rd overall pick in this year's draft. The 22-year-old had 62 catches for 1,017 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 2025 for Tennessee.
Brazzell was expected to challenge Xavier Legette for the Panthers’ third receiver spot, behind Tetairoa McMillan, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and former undrafted free agent Jalen Coker.
With Brazzell out, veteran David Moore and newcomer John Metchie, who played with quarterback Bryce Young at Alabama, will be in the mix with Legette for WR3.
Legette knows he has to play well next season, which is why he dropped weight and followed an offseason plan to "bulletproof" his hamstrings. Legette is doing everything he can to ensure he has a productive 2026 campaign. The prevailing thought in league circles is that the Panthers will trade Legette if he gets off to a slow start next season.
The Panthers selected Legette with the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The WR had 49 catches during his rookie season, totaling 497 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
At the team's urging, Legette is leaner this year. He said he went through organized team activities and minicamp at 221 pounds after playing last season at 228-230.
The Panthers have a difficult 2026 schedule. They face the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
Last season, Young finished with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
