Team news: Carolina Panthers

A.J. Dillon has been ruled out against Philadelphia with an ankle injury. Trevor Etienne is questionable after practicing fully Friday and still needs activation from IR. Dave Canales said Carolina intends to activate Etienne and will likely promote Tre Tyus from the practice squad to have three running backs available.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard

Hubbard remains an RB1 option, with Dillon’s absence further securing his workload. Etienne is a speculative bench addition if activated, but managers should wait for evidence of a usable offensive role before putting him in a FLEX spot.

The Panthers listed Jalen Coker as a full participant on Wednesday’s estimated injury report as he returns from a quadriceps injury. Carolina did not practice Wednesday; Coker was on the field Tuesday.

Related Players: Tetairoa McMillan, Brycen Tremayne, John Metchie III, David Moore, Darren Waller, Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, Bryce Young

Coker is back in the WR2 conversation against Philadelphia if he progresses through the week without a setback. His return would push Tremayne and Metchie toward deeper-league bench roles, while McMillan remains a strong starter. Having both primary receivers available would also strengthen Young’s case as a streaming quarterback.

nd yes, Jalen Coker is here too practicing for the #Panthers. Dave Canales said the WR was “on track” to play this week on Monday.

Continue to monitor but it looks like Coker will be good to go at the Eagles in a game that's in the early window on Sunday. Coker was off to a hot start in Weeks 1 and 2 before leaving in Week 3. He was out in Week 4 and then had the extra week over the bye in Week 5. It may be best to wait and see but Coker, had 9 targets each in Weeks 1 and 2, so it may be tempting to put him right back in lineups.

Princely Umanmielen (ankle), Jalen Coker (quad) and Derrick Brown are all in uniform but are working with a trainer away from the rest of the group to start practice.

Darren Walller (toe), Monroe Freeling (red jersey - non-contact - concussion), and Chuba Hubbard all working with teammates.

Related Players: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Darren Waller, Brycen Tremayne, John Metchie

Side work represents some progress from Wednesday’s absence, but Coker remains at risk of missing Sunday night’s game. His late kickoff makes a Friday update particularly important for managers considering him as a WR3 or flex. An absence would strengthen McMillan’s target outlook, while Waller could receive additional underneath work, and Carolina would need Tremayne, Metchie, or the injured Legette to absorb more WR reps.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young never came out of Sunday’s loss to the Browns, but he was moving gingerly after a sack in the first half and he’ll be going for some tests to kick off this week.

Head coach Dave Canales didn’t specify what body part Young injured when he got kicked during the game and said that he thinks the quarterback will be fine for their Week 4 trip to Detroit, but that he’ll get imaging done to make sure there’s nothing more going on.

The Panthers are just taking precaution it sounds like. The story quoted Canales as saying "He was sore a little bit. I think he took a cleat, I can’t remember exactly where. There was some soreness, he was able to battle through it."

Panthers WR Jalen Coker, who left Sunday's game early, suffered a minor quad strain, source said.

Related players: Xavier Legette

It's certainly good news it's being called a minor injury. After a great Week 1, Coker had a solid Week 2 but has since been dealing with some minor injuries, including an ankle heading into Week 2. The report went on to say Coker is considered questionable for this week, so it looks like the injury reports later in the week will hopefully give us a better indication of his Week 4 status. The Panthers get a Sunday night prime time game next week at home against the Lions, so owners may have to come up with a backup plan. Legette would likely have a bigger role if Coker has to miss the game.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks, who left Sunday’s win early, is expected to have surgery today to repair a core muscle injury that will land him on Injured Reserve, sources say.

Brooks is out at least 6 weeks, but should return with plenty of time to contribute down the stretch.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, A.J. Dillon, Austin Ekeler, Ahmani Marshall

Brooks can remain stashed in deeper leagues with sufficient IR space. Hubbard should continue handling the overwhelming majority of Carolina’s backfield work, with Dillon serving as the primary reserve. The Panthers also worked out Austin Ekeler on Wednesday, suggesting they may add another experienced option behind Hubbard.

Panthers WR Jalen Coker (ankle) said he doesn’t expect to miss time.

Coker had a boot on his left foot in the locker room after the game, but the post said Coker commented, “Just rolled my ankle a little bit.” The post went on to say the injury happened in the first quarter and this boot is precautionary. It's good news Coker returned and put up big numbers, but it's still worth keeping an eye on as players tend to be optimistic about their status. Coker is going to be a huge waiver wire pickup this week in typical leagues. He had a line of 8-132-2 in Week 1.

Jonathon Brooks is expected to share the backfield workload in 2026 with Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers' returning starter, and as Rico Dowdle proved last season, having a tandem to ride the hot hand in the backfield is important in any offense.

"Yeah, we'll definitely roll it out just the way we have been," Canales said last month. "Where you have a lead back for the series, the other guy comes in on third down so they can be in there for the protection, and also we run the ball on third down. So those are good opportunities to just keep a guy into the game, while the other person, whether it's Chuba or [Brooks], we'll make that decision when we get closer.

"But whoever the lead guy for the base downs is, they'll get the bulk of that rhythm."

Related players: A.J. Dillon

The team said last week they are optimistic Brooks will play in Week 1, but we may have to wait until Wednesday for another update, based on the story. Many feel Brooks will end up as the team's lead back - most weeks, after Hubbard - most weeks - was behind Dowdle in the RB pecking order last season. But it remains to be seen what kind of workload Brooks gets early in the season, especially now coming off general soreness in camp. Until we know more, both backs may be a bit risky for lineups outside of deeper flex options.

Asked how Darren Waller has looked, Dave Canales said: "Big and fast."

Related players: Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders

Person went on to say the Panthers used a slow ramp up with Waller this summer after his soft-tissue issues with the Dolphins coming off his one-yr retirement. But the veteran TE expects to be active Sunday vs. the Bears, Person added. Waller had some nice games last season getting back into action. He had six TDs in nine games, but those six TDs came in just four different contests. Waller averaged just 2.67 catches a game last year and had three or less catches in seven of his nine games. The Panthers TE situation seems like one to wait-and-see on, especially with a questionable passing game and QB situation. The Panthers have Tremble and Sanders on the roster as well.