Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is "really close" to returning, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers opened Coker's 21-day practice window last week, and he was actually practicing in full, but they held him out of the Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Coker suffered a serious quad injury in late August in training camp and opened the 2025 campaign on Injured Reserve. If he doesn't suffer a setback at practice this week, it seems there's a good chance he'll officially be activated to make his season debut in Week 7 against the New York Jets. The 23-year-old second-year wideout should be scooped off waivers now if you need WR depth. The Panthers haven't really had anyone step up as a bona fide No. 2 behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan this year. Coker was very productive down the stretch last year and finished with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (four starts).
Oct 13, 2025 3:07 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) has been ruled out for the upcoming Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Coker had his practice window opened this week and was questionable for Sunday's game. He was a full participant in practice this week, but the Panthers have decided to hold him out for at least one more game. Coker has been out all season while nursing a quad injury he suffered in August. The hope is that Coker can make his season debut against the New York Jets next week. In the meantime, Xavier Legette and Hunter Renfrow should continue seeing increased work with Tetairoa McMillan being the primary wideout.
Oct 11, 2025 6:21 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers have listed wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) as questionable to make his 2025 debut in Week 6 against the visiting Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Despite practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday, Coker will be a game-time decision on Sunday. The 23-year-old missed the first five weeks of the season due to a pretty serious quadriceps injury that he suffered at the end of August, but he's almost fully recovered. The Panthers could ease Coker back into the fold whenever he's officially activated from Injured Reserve, but given the lack of production behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan this year, the second-year pass-catcher could quickly earn plenty of playing time in Carolina. Coker won't be a realistic starting option in fantasy if he's active this weekend, but he's deserving of a waiver-wire pickup and stash now that his 2025 debut is just around the corner.
Oct 10, 2025 1:06 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps), who is still on Injured Reserve, practiced in full on Thursday for the second straight day this week, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Carolina opened Coker's 21-day practice window this week, and it's looking more likely that the second-year pass-catcher might be activated to make his season debut in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys. We probably won't know until Saturday if Coker will be activated from IR. The 23-year-old has made good strides since suffering his quad injury on Aug. 28, but the Panthers could elect to play it safe and give him another week of practice before potentially debuting in Week 7 against the New York Jets. Coker showed late last year in his first NFL season that he has the skills to take on a big role in Carolina's passing attack, and he could settle into the WR2 role in 2025 if he can stay healthy.
Oct 9, 2025 3:53 PM EST
Updating a previous report, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) was a full participant in his return to practice on Wednesday, according to David Newton of ESPN. The Panthers opened Coker's 21-day practice window on Wednesday, and he's eligible to come off Injured Reserve at any time. The 23-year-old is back at practice for the first time since suffering a quad injury on Aug. 28, but it's still unclear if he actually has a shot to be activated to make his 2025 debut this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys. Even if Coker doesn't play in Week 6, he's deserving of a waiver-wire pickup for fantasy managers looking for receiving depth. The Panthers haven't gotten much production from their receivers not named Tetairoa McMillan through five weeks. Coker became much more involved late in his rookie season in 2024 and finished with 32 catches, 478 yards, and two scores in 11 games (four starts).
Oct 8, 2025 3:55 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) has officially been designated to return from Injured Reserve and will return to practice on Wednesday, according to a team release. The Panthers will now have 21 days to officially activate Coker from IR. The 23-year-old missed the first five games of the season due to a pretty serious quad injury that he suffered on Aug. 28, but he's making progress and could be ready to make his 2025 debut as early as this Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. It's probably unlikely that we'll see Coker in pads and a helmet in Week 6, but this is a notice to fantasy managers seeking wideout depth to run to the waiver wire and add him. Xavier Legette's return from injury and big game in Week 5 kind of puts a damper on Coker's fantasy value right now, but the second-year wideout could still have a big role in Carolina's passing game when he returns after posting a 32-478-2 line in 11 games in his rookie campaign.
Oct 8, 2025 1:41 PM EST
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is slated to have his practice window opened prior to Wednesday's practice. This is an excellent sign for the second-year wideout, as he has been on the injured reserve since the beginning of the season. While he was unable to return in Week 5, it appears Coker will be in the mix to make his season debut this weekend when the Panthers face the Dallas Cowboys. As a rookie, Coker showed flashes of potential at times, catching 32 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns. This season, the Panthers have not had a reliable No. 2 option, opposite of star rookie Tetairoa McMillan, which could open up a large target share for Coker. When healthy, managers should expect Coker to be the primary slot option and carry FLEX value in PPR formats.
Oct 6, 2025 3:09 PM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker's (quadriceps) practice window is expected to be opened next week, according to Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. "Coker is doing great," Canales said. "He's hitting some top speeds. Now, it's about capacity." The 23-year-old opened the 2025 season on Injured Reserve with a pretty serious quad injury. He's now eligible to come off IR after already missing four games, but he will not make his season debut in Week 5 against the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sunday. With Coker finally ready to practice next week, don't be surprised if he's not ready to play in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, either. A more realistic date for Coker's potential return could be a Week 7 date against the New York Jets. With nobody really stepping up outside of rookie first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan, Coker has a real opportunity to become Carolina's WR2 once he's fully healthy.
Oct 3, 2025 1:41 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is still week-to-week with a serious quadriceps injury that has kept him out for the first four weeks of the season, according to David Newton of ESPN. Coker opened the year on Injured Reserve. The 23-year-old is now eligible to come off IR for the Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins, but it doesn't sound like that is going to happen. In fact, he might not even be a lock for Week 6. Once Carolina opens Coker's practice window, they'll have 21 days to officially activate him to the active roster. The Panthers could use some help in the passing game behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, as veteran Hunter Renfrow hasn't done much outside of a pair of touchdowns, and Xavier Legette (hamstring) has missed the last two games. Coker became a big part of the team's offense in his rookie year in 2024, so he's worth stashing in an IR spot with his return potentially coming in several weeks.
Sep 29, 2025 6:07 PM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is progressing in his return from injury, but he remains in the week-to-week stage of his recovery, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Coker injured his quad seemingly out of nowhere right after the news of Adam Thielen being traded to Minnesota and boosting his fantasy value. It seems the injury is taking more time than expected and will keep him out beyond the allotted four games for injured reserve. He is still a solid stash on injured reserve for the time being, but if you get crunched for a roster spot, then it is probably okay to cut him loose.
Sep 25, 2025 12:59 AM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is eligible to return in Week 5 after spending the first four games on injured reserve with a preseason quad injury. In his absence, veteran Hunter Renfrow has handled the slot role, catching 11 passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns through three weeks. When Coker returns against the Miami Dolphins, he should have a chance to carve out fantasy relevance. Rookie Tetairoa McMillan has emerged as the clear WR1, but the rest of the receiver group has been inconsistent, leaving room for Coker to make an impact in his second season. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should keep Coker on the waiver-wire radar next week, as he could quickly work his way into a meaningful role behind McMillan.
Sep 24, 2025 10:49 AM EST
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is expected to play a significant role in the team's passing attack once he returns from injury. The second-year receiver suffered a notable quad strain prior to the season and was placed on injured reserve. In his absence, Hunter Renfrow has stepped into a larger role, playing 79% of the snaps through two weeks and catching seven passes on nine targets for 48 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2. While Renfrow has been serviceable, the Panthers view Coker as a core piece moving forward. Fantasy managers should consider stashing him ahead of his potential Week 6 return.
Sep 16, 2025 8:51 PM EST
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
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