Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is dealing with a "significant quad strain." It's the reason why the Panthers brought back veteran Hunter Renfrow, especially after trading Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings last week. The Panthers placed Coker on Injured Reserve, which means that he will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the 2025 season after injuring his quad in practice late last week. It's a shame, too, since Coker was standing out in training camp practices this summer and was looking to be in line for a decent role as a depth piece for the Panthers passing attack. That could still happen later this year, and Coker isn't the worst IR stash in fantasy leagues if you're looking for an extra wideout. In the meantime, Renfrow could have the leg up for the WR3 role heading into Week 1.
Sep 1, 2025 12:36 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers have placed wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) on injured reserve, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 23-year-old was in line for a larger role in the team's offense after Carolina traded away veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, but Coker will now miss at least the first four games of the season. After going undrafted in 2024, Coker recorded 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games last season as a rookie. The Panthers will now likely be turning to veteran wide receivers Hunter Renfrow and David Moore to replace Coker's production. Coker should no longer be a late-round target in fantasy drafts, but he's a name to remember as a mid-season waiver-wire addition, depending on the severity of this quad injury.
Aug 30, 2025 12:11 PM EST
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said specifically that wide receiver Jalen Coker will play in the slot this year after the team traded veteran Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings this week. Morgan also called Coker "a baller." Now that Thielen is out of town, the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher projects to start in the slot in three-wide sets alongside rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette. After going undrafted last year, Coker signed with the Panthers and made noise in his first year in the NFL with 32 catches on 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (four starts). Coker was Carolina's top slot receiver from Weeks 5-10 when Thielen was injured, and he was in a near every-down role to close out the year. Coker is ranked as the No. 63 receiver at RotoBaller and is worth a late-round flier as a sleeper in upcoming fantasy drafts.
Aug 28, 2025 12:11 PM EST
With wide receiver Adam Thielen headed back to Minnesota in a Wednesday trade, the Carolina Panthers are planning on an enhanced role for receiver Jalen Coker, as reported by Jordan Schultz. A former undrafted free agent, Coker put together a solid rookie season on a bad Panthers team in 2024, accumulating 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in just 11 games. Carolina added Tetairoa McMillan in the draft, but Coker figures to be in the mix to see an increased target share without Thielen, who averaged more than seven targets per game during his two years with the Panthers.
Aug 27, 2025 10:23 AM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (illness) will not play in Saturday's preseason matchup against the Houston Texans. The second-year wideout posted 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie but faces tougher competition for snaps this year. With rookie Tetairoa McMillan entering the fold and Xavier Legette already locked in as a starter, Coker will need to maximize his preseason reps to secure a role in Carolina's rotation. For now, he's off the fantasy radar outside of the deepest formats, but his development will be worth monitoring.
Aug 16, 2025 2:43 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (illness) did not practice on Thursday due to an illness, according to head coach Dave Canales. The second-year wideout out of Holy Cross had a solid showing in the team's first preseason game of the year last week, snagging two receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. In his rookie season, the 23-year-old tallied 32 receptions on 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns. While rookie Tetairoa McMillan is expected to be the immediate WR1 for quarterback Bryce Young, Coker could be a sneaky fantasy football value pick if Carolina's offense takes a step forward. Luckily, Coker is not dealing with anything serious and should return to action soon.
Aug 14, 2025 4:01 PM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday that wide receiver Jalen Coker has been "one of the more reliable" targets for quarterback Bryce Young thus far. Specifically, Canales was asked if the second-year wideout is on the roster bubble, to which he replied, "We're gonna play the best guys." Canales added that "if he keeps showing up the way he has, he's going to be on the field playing." The 23-year-old isn't slotted in with the starting group of wide receivers on Carolina's unofficial depth chart, although it's possible that changes. Despite Coker's standing on paper, teammate Adam Thielen is nearing the end of his career, and Xavier Legette still has to show improvement. It isn't unreasonable to think Coker will have an expanded role in 2025, especially after flashing last season. Still, he'll have to leapfrog one of his aforementioned teammates in the hierarchy.
Aug 11, 2025 3:58 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker made a strong statement in Friday's 30-10 preseason loss against the Cleveland Browns, capitalizing on an expanded role with a stat line of 2-17-1 on four targets. Entering his second year after a rookie season stat line of (32-478-2), Coker demonstrated the offseason growth that coaches had challenged him to achieve. Coker's standout performance included a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bryce Young. The play came after Coker, who entered the game early following a Xavier Legette ejection, navigated a scramble play and found a hole in the back of the end zone. The impressive performance earned praise from head coach Dave Canales, who had worked closely with Coker on an offseason development plan. "Coker comes in when Xavier goes out and did a fantastic job, like we didn't skip a beat, made some great plays," Canales said, per a report on the Carolina Panthers website by Kassidy Hill. Coker, who also played on special teams, acknowledged the need to expand his game in a now-crowded receiver room. "I'm going to need to bring more than just catching the football," Coker said. His commitment to the plan, including staying in Charlotte for offseason training, appears to be paying off early in his second professional season.
Aug 9, 2025 3:18 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker enjoyed a relatively productive rookie campaign in 2024, securing 32 of his 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns. That's a solid season of productivity for an undrafted rookie out of Holy Cross, and he could be a contributor in 2025. However, Joe Person of The Athletic did not include Coker as a roster lock at wideout. He listed Adam Thielen, Tetairoa McMillan, and Xavier Legette as safely making the 53-man roster and mentioned rookie Jimmy Horn is likely to make the team thanks to his skills as a returner. The team only carried five wide receivers last season to begin the year, so that leaves Coker, Hunter Renfrow, Dan Chisena, David Moore, and Jacolby George potentially fighting for the last spot. "Special teams is going to be such a huge piece of that puzzle. How can these guys help us in the coverage units? Can they help us as a returner?" Head coach Dave Canales said. "That's the part where we get to challenge our guys to find a role, take this thing seriously. 'You're not here just to catch passes. We only get so many helmets on game day, so we need all of you guys to contribute in different ways." Coker is likely the "favorite" to win a roster spot, but this situation should be monitored. Should Coker not make the team, there should be plenty of interest in his services.
Jun 17, 2025 2:43 PM EST
The Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye said that Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (undisclosed) looked fast during offseason practice on Wednesday, and his undisclosed soft-tissue injury appears to be mostly resolved. Both he and Xavier Legette had nice catch-and-run plays during seven-on-seven drills. Coker went undrafted out of Holy Cross last year but latched on with the Panthers and exceeded expectations with a 32-478-2 line on 46 targets over 11 games (four starts). However, the return of veteran Adam Thielen and the team drafting Tetairoa McMillan in the first round of this year's NFL draft won't make it easier for the 23-year-old to develop a bigger role in his sophomore campaign in 2025. If he wants to remain in starting three-wide sets, he's going to have to beat out Legette. RotoBaller has Coker ranked as the No. 69 fantasy receiver.
Jun 11, 2025 9:53 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (undisclosed) is working off to the side during Tuesday's practice as he deals with a soft-tissue injury. This move is out of an abundance of caution, according to head coach Dave Canales. After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Coker had a relatively productive rookie season. He secured 32 of his 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. The Holy Cross product was on the fantasy football radar on occasion last season and earned at least five targets in five games. While the team added first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 NFL Draft, Coker could emerge into a full-time starter if Adam Thielen continues to get banged up in his age-35 season. Either way, he should be left on the waiver wire in traditional leagues since he'll likely start the year behind McMillan, Thielen, and 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette.
May 27, 2025 2:51 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker has mainly been a stash candidate in dynasty/keeper fantasy leagues in his first season in the NFL. He heads into the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons with only 25 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets over 10 games played. That has been good enough to make him the WR74 in average half-PPR points per game (6.6), so it's safe to say he wasn't rostered in most standard-sized fantasy leagues in 2024. However, the 23-year-old could make some noise as a WR4/flex sleeper in the final game of the regular season this weekend against a Falcons defense that has allowed the sixth-most half-PPR points per game to opposing wideouts this year. Although the undrafted rookie had only 35 yards in last weeks loss to the Bucs, he finished second on the team in receiving behind veteran Adam Thielen.
Jan 4, 2025 12:39 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught each of his two targets for a total of 35 yards during Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year receiver out of Holy Cross has shown numerous flashes this season, but he's struggling to establish himself as a consistent option while competing for targets with Adam Thielen, David Moore, and Xavier Legette. Coker did play 87 percent of offensive snaps, tying his second-highest mark of the season. His 35 receiving yards also ranked second-most on the team behind Thielen, who had 110 yards and two touchdowns. Despite facing some growing pains in a developing Panthers offense, there's reason to believe that Coker could eventually become the team's clear-cut No. 3 receiver. He's an intriguing dynasty target ahead of the upcoming NFL (and fantasy football) offseason. Before then, he'll get one more chance to cement himself in the Panthers' offense when he faces the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18.
Dec 29, 2024 11:56 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker projects to be a risky flex option in deeper formats in a Week 17 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last weekend, Coker caught only two of his five targets for a mere eight yards. However, in Week 15, Coker tallied 110 yards and a score on four receptions. During Weeks 5 through 10, Coker saw 4.2 targets per game and has continued to see a slight increase in opportunities as the season has progressed. In addition, No.2 wideout Xavier Legette (hip) is listed as questionable and could open up more targets for Coker if he cannot suit up. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to the inactive report before kickoff as Coker could move up the depth chart prior to the game. In addition, No.1 running back Chuba Hubbard (knee) has been ruled out which could encourage Carolina to rely on their passing attack more often. Despite this, fantasy managers in deeper 3WR formats should only consider starting Coker as a desperation flex option given his unstable production this season, even in a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay secondary that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.
Dec 28, 2024 2:32 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker was a non-factor in the Week 16 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, registering two catches for eight yards. He was targeted five times, which tied for second on the team, but he finished sixth on the team in receiving. Carolina tied a season-best with 36 points and resurgent quarterback Bryce Young played his best game of the year, yet Coker wasn't really part of the action. For managers who advance to their fantasy Super Bowls, the rookie is a massive gamble with a great matchup in Week 17 against Tampa Bay.
Dec 23, 2024 12:00 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie wideout hasn't played since Week 10 while he recovers from a quad injury. It now appears that Coker will be back in the mix this weekend. However, it's uncertain what kind of role Coker is going to have with Adam Thielen healthy and playing well right now. Coker might end up falling into the WR4 role which isn't going to offer much fantasy value. Coker will be a desperation flex option for Week 15.
Dec 13, 2024 2:36 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) practiced in full for a second straight day on Thursday. The rookie out of Holy Cross has missed each of the last three games due to a quad injury, but he could return in Week 15 to face the Dallas Cowboys. Coker caught nine of his 17 targets for 155 yards and a touchdown in his last three active games, but the return of Adam Thielen likely puts an end to his time on the fantasy football radar. At best, he'll likely operate behind Thielen and fellow rookie Xavier Legette in Bryce Young's target pecking order. He can be safely dropped in leagues of 12 teams or fewer.
Dec 12, 2024 2:13 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) was listed as a full participant for the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Coker also began last week with a full practice on Wednesday before being limited on Thursday and sitting out on Friday. The 23-year-old then missed his third straight game in the Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. If he can avoid a setback this week, he could return to action this Sunday against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Even if the first-year pass-catcher avoids setbacks later this week and is active for Week 15, fantasy managers will want to avoid him as a starting lineup option. Coker did have a season-high eight targets in his last game played in the Week 10 win over the New York Giants in London, but he's been minimally involved in his first NFL season and has only 17 total catches (26 targets) for 263 yards and one touchdown in seven games played.
Dec 11, 2024 3:03 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is officially inactive for the Week 14 game against the hosting Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Coker was listed as doubtful on the team's final injury report on Friday, so this doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 23-year-old wideout has not played since injuring his quadriceps muscle in Week 10 and will now try to get himself healthy for a Week 15 tilt against the Dallas Cowboys. Coker had a full practice on Wednesday but then was downgraded to limited and downgraded again on Friday with a DNP, signaling he may have suffered a setback. Coker hasn't really been a realistic starting option for fantasy managers in his first year in the NFL, but his absence will keep David Moore on the WR4/5 radar for desperate fantasy managers as he works as the WR3 behind Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette.
Dec 8, 2024 12:03 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is officially listed as doubtful to play in Week 14 on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coker was a full participant in the first practice of the week but evidently suffered a setback and was downgraded to limited on Thursday, making it unlikely he'll make his return this Sunday. The 23-year-old will be missing his third straight game if he's officially active on Sunday morning. Coker, an undrafted rookie free agent, has mostly been a dynasty/keeper stash in his first year in the NFL in 2024, as he's caught just 17 of his 26 targets for 263 yards and one touchdown in seven games (one start) for the Panthers. With Coker likely to miss a third straight game, David Moore will be a boom/bust WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues behind Adam Thielen and rookie Xavier Legette in a game in which the Panthers will likely have to throw often.
Dec 6, 2024 12:39 PM EST
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