Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 8

Sources: Packers rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday afternoon.

Related players: Josh Jacobs, A.J. Dillon

The injury is not considered serious and he's expected to be fine for the season. However, we all know hamstring injuries can be tricky, so the team will be cautious with him, the post said. His time missed could set him back a bit on the depth chart, possibly making Dillon the RB2 to open the season behind Jacobs. Given Dillon's struggles last season, though, many feel Lloyd has a chance to earn the RB2 job at some point.

Via Joe Person of TheAthletic.com, first-round rookie receiver Xavier Legette is back on the field after missing a few practices with a foot injury.

Related players: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen

The Panthers traded up to pick Legette with the 32nd selection in the first round. He's expected to slide into the WR3 role, assuming he can get back up to speed, behind Johnson and Thielen.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette left practice early Sunday with an apparent lower-leg injury.

As said by head coach Dave Canales, Legette was evaluated as a precautionary measure, and X-rays came back negative. Legette will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. This is already multiple injuries Legette has dealt with this offseason. He also had a hamstring issue in June. Legette can currently be had for a bargain in drafts.

Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will hopefully be ready to play by Week 3 or 4.

That’s at least the hope from head coach Dave Canales. Brooks is still recovering from
His torn ACL suffered last year while at Texas. The Panthers selected Brooks in the second round of the draft. While Brooks is out, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders will handle rushing duties but Brooks should eventually take center stage once he is healthy. We currently have Brooks as a flex option heading into drafts. The Panthers open the season September 8 at New Orleans.

Panthers placed veteran RB Rashaad Penny on the reserve/retired list Tuesday. The 28-year-old Penny played five years for the Seahawks and spent last season with the Eagles.

Related players: Jonathon Brooks, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders

Penny barely saw action last year with the Eagles coming off a strong half season with the Seahawks back in 2022, this was despite the Eagles need for a bigger, bruising back. This season in Carolina, Penny was likely well behind the rookie Brooks, Hubbard and Sanders in the Panther backfield.

Panthers signed former Buccaneers wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers, where he was with Carolina HC Dave Canales.

Related Players: Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore, Terrace Marshall

Thompkins could have a long road to make the team after being released by the Buccaneers earlier this offseason. The former Utah State Aggie was taken as a UDFA in 2022, and has 35 total targets through his first two seasons.

Matt LaFleur said he didn't think rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd (hip) would be out too long. He said probably would miss the next couple of days.

Related players: Josh Jacobs, A.J. Dillon

Lloyd has impressed in spring and it appears he'll be the team's RB2 behind Jacobs once the season gets started. Dillon is likely the third option and while reports say he's in great shape, Lloyd looks like the back you want to own as a backup to Jacobs.

Free-agent RB AJ Dillon is expected to re-sign with the #Packers pending a physical.

Related Players: Josh Jacobs

The Packers opted to bring in Jacobs to replace Aaron Jones but are keeping Dillon, who finished 2023 as one of the least efficient running backs in football. Dillon has become an afterthought for fantasy football and should likely remain there.

The Raiders will release WR Hunter Renfrow when the new league year begins later today, as he was to count $13.7M against the cap. Renfrow, along with QB Jimmy Garoppolo, will both be free agents.

Related Players: Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Kristian Wilkerson

Renfrow's role in the post-Carr Raiders has taken a huge drop, falling to only 37 targets in 2023. Regardless of where he lands, a return to a 100+ target option is unlikely.

The Steelers are sending WR Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. A new weapon for Bryce Young. Johnson has a $3 million roster bonus due Friday that the Panthers now will pay.

Related Players: George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Dez Fitzpatrick, Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall, Jonathan Mingo

This is certainly good news for Bryce Young after the team brought him on board with arguably the worst pass-catching unit in the NFL last year. Johnson should instantly become the focal point of this offense, but the team still desperately needs help at WR, TE, and RB before we get too excited about the Panthers in fantasy.

For the Steelers, this also has them trending in the wrong direction on excitement-level, but it makes George Pickens very intriguing. This puts him in the conversation for a fringe WR2/3, not unlike Courtland Sutton with Russell Wilson the last two seasons.