Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Legette is still in a walking boot.
According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Legette is still in a walking boot after getting hurt during a joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Person reports that Legette "will get the boot off Thursday, but he will miss the Texans game with an eye on being 100 percent for the Sept. 13 opener."
Legette didn't play up to his standards last season. He had just 35 receptions, 363 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
The Panthers have drafted a WR two years in a row since taking Legette with the last pick of the first round in 2024, making the WR room crowded. In 2025, Carolina took Tetairoa McMillan, and in this year's draft, the Panthers selected Chris Brazzell.
Legette must have 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 this season.
At the team's urging, Legette is leaner this year. He went through organized team activities and minicamp at 221 pounds after playing last season at 228-230.
Legette enters this season with 84 catches, 860 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Even though the Panthers won the NFC South title last season, they finished with a sub-.500 record and needed help in Week 18 to win the division. For Carolina to make the playoffs again this season, Legette and Bryce Young have to get on the same page.
“Me and Bryce, we ain’t never had a problem. But there’s always room to grow,” Legette said back in June. "Hopefully, we can play with each other for a long time.”
Young is set to make $12.1 million this season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
The first pick in the 2023 draft, Young has to play well again this season to earn an extension.
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.
Young enters this season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
The Panthers open the 2026 season against the Chicago Bears at home. That game features two No. 1 overall picks: Young and Caleb Williams.
