For the first time in a long time, the Carolina Panthers feel like they’re building to something greater. Off the heels of two comeback victories against the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys, the team is 3-3 and has its whole season in front of it.
The star of the last two weeks has been the breakout performances of running back Rico Dowdle, who has helped will the Panthers to victory. Now, the Panthers are hoping the return of a wide receiver will help spring open the pass game as well.
Second-year wide receiver Jalen Coker is being activated off IR following a quad injury before the season began. Coker is hoping to build off his impressive training camp performances from this Summer.
Standout Training Camp
Jalen Coker had high hopes heading into the 2025 season. After coming to the Panthers undrafted out of The College of Holy Cross in 2024, Coker put up a solid rookie campaign, totaling 32 receptions for 478 yards and two touchdowns. The momentum carried over into training camp this season.
Throughout training camp, Coker made highlight plays and drew praise from coaches, teammates, and media alike.
Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire wrote about how Panthers head coach Dave Canales was impressed with Coker’s work ethic in his August 6 article.
“I think Jalen has taken full advantage of the five weeks that we had off since the spring,” Canales told reporters. “In OTAs, he kinda just was ramping up, kinda getting a plan for his readiness—and he came back a different athlete.”
Kassidy Hill of Panthers.com, in her August 21 article, wrote about how Coker approached this season with a mindset of doing anything to help the team.
“Coming out of college, you want to be a receiver, you want to be a starter and all that stuff, so I think I didn’t take it as seriously,” Coker said. “So then to come into this year, you know, bigger room, I got to make an impact in a different way, so really buying into special teams, become a better blocker, all around just a better athlete, so that’s kind of how I’ve taken it.”
Coker is now ready to take advantage of his opportunity.
Coker Brings New Element
The Panthers are grateful to add Coker back to a wide receiver room that was lacking in depth since Coker’s injury and the trade of veteran Adam Thielen. Coker will now join Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Hunter Renfrow in hopes of bolstering the passing game.
In Darin Gantt’s October 16 article for Panthers.com, quarterback Bryce Young discussed the versatility that Coker brings to the offense.
“Coming in undrafted, you don’t really get that luxury of, hey, I just played this position,” Young said. “You don’t get to just sit in and be like I’m only going to be the X or Z, so he had to go and just play wherever he could. He was able to get reps at all spots. The competitor he is, he just wants to get on the field, however he could, especially back then. He was an outside guy, but then he had to fill in inside, and it’s like, oh wow, he can do that too.”
Coker can be the key that makes the Panthers a balanced offense, on the level of their stellar rushing game, in the past few weeks.
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