Team news: Carolina Panthers

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.

For any worried Panthers fans out there, Jonathon Brooks seems to be moving well.

Related players: Chuba Hubbard

The video is about 28 seconds of Brooks working off to the side in practice, which has been a recent trend. He does appear to be moving fine in the video. Gaskins said HC Dave Canales and the team will evaluate the tape after practice and that we'd likely know more Wednesday when initial injury reports are released.

Dave Canales: "Very optimistic" that RB Jonathon Brooks will be available for Week 1 vs. the Bears.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, Trevor Etienne

Canales’ optimism mostly removes the immediate concern created by Brooks’ unexplained soreness. Carolina has indicated that Brooks and Hubbard will form a committee when both are healthy, but Brooks’ 11-spot advantage over ADP reflects his superior upside within that arrangement.

Canales: If Chuba Hubbard is good to go, it will be RB by committee (with Jonathan Brooks) in Week 1.

Hubbard has been dealing with a hamstring injury and is looking to get healthy before the start of the season. It shouldn't be a surprise the team is going to use both backs, but it's possible one emerges as the leader. That's something we'll likely have to wait and see on. For our money, we have Brooks ranked higher on our RB list, but we all know about the major knee injuries over the past three seasons. It looks like Brooks is finally healthy and the team may ease him into a bigger workload early in the season. If he can survive that, Brooks should have more fantasy value for the long term.

The Panthers have made it official with Darren Waller.

Carolina announced on Monday that Waller has signed with the club.

It was reported last week that the veteran tight end had agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

Related players: Ja'Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble

Waller, 33, came out of retirement to play for the Dolphins last season. He caught 24 passes for 283 yards with six touchdowns in nine games. The touchdowns put Waller on the fantasy radar despite averaging just over two catches a game. Waller could again be a red zone target in Carolina and could slide in ahead of Sanders, who was a nice prospect but missed four games in 2025 and averaged less than 15 receiving yards per game. Waller is more of a later-round TE2 option to take a chance on.

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard has a hamstring injury. He’s week to week, per Dave Canales.

Related Players: Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne

This clears more room for Brooks, who has already almost matched his teammate's ADP, to make a case for more early-season looks. We've already seen injuries force Hubbard to cede work to Rico Dowdle, and if Brooks is healthy, he is a far better talent than Dowdle. Draft Hubbard with caution, while Brooks continues to slide up the RB3 rankings.

The Carolina Panthers and free agent tight end Darren Waller reached agreement Wednesday on a one-year deal, his agency announced.

The 33-year-old playmaker spent last season with the Miami Dolphins working with new Panthers associate head coach/offensive specialist Darrell Bevell, who was Miami's passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Related Players: Ja'Tavion Sanders

It would be easy to brush this one off, but that's what we tried to do last year before Waller scored six times in nine games in an oft-injured season. At the least, this lowers the floor for Sanders, who was already down in TE streaming territory. Assuming Waller is healthy heading into the season, it will be difficult to plug either TE into lineups.

TE Ja'Tavion Sanders is playing tonight after an ankle injury. Back-to-back catches to start the game.

Related Players: Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans

Sanders seeing immediate involvement is encouraging after last year’s season-ending injury, but Carolina’s pass-catching competition remains open. Sanders is currently TE45 and No. 246 overall in the 4for4 rankings, putting him firmly in deep-league territory.