Carolina Panthers

Mike Jackson

CB

Jackson was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, which cleared him to practice during Week 10 prep. He logged a trio of limited practices, but the doubtful tag indicates that the veteran defensive back will spend at least one more week on IR. If he's not cleared to play in Week 10, then Jackson's next opportunity to play would be Week 11 against the Ravens on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Will Lee III

CB

Lee injured his hamstring against the Packers in Week 8, which prevented him from playing in Week 9 against the Broncos. He was a full participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but his reps were limited during Friday's session, which may have been for maintenance reasons. Regardless, Lee's official status for Sunday's NFC South tilt may not be officially known until the Panthers announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Mike Jackson (groin, IR) is listed as doubtful, so it's unclear who the Panthers will turn to at outside cornerback opposite Malcolm DeWalt if Lee is unable to play.

Xavier Legette

WR

Legette is trending toward a return from injured reserve after the Panthers listed him as a full practice participant all week. They'll need to activate him by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday to have Legette on the active roster for Sunday's NFC South showdown. Legette was Carolina's No. 3 receiver before the injury, often running clear-out routes while Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker dominated the targets. John Metchie and Brycen Tremayne took on more snaps in Legette's absence over the past month-plus.

Jaelan Phillips

LB

questionable

Jonathon Brooks

RB

Brooks remains on injured reserve and isn't likely to be activated by the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline Saturday. He was listed as a full practice participant at the beginning of the week, but coach Dave Canales revealed Friday that there was a reporting error with Brooks and CB Mike Jackson (groin), both of whom should have been listed as limited. Both were then listed as limited Thursday and Friday, with 'doubtful' designations for Sunday's game. Brooks appears on track to return for Week 11 or 12, at which point he could take a few touches away from Chuba Hubbard.

Bobby Okereke

LB

Okereke was estimated as a non-participant at Wednesday's walkthrough, and he remained sidelined for Thursday's full-speed practice. Barring a return to practice Friday, Okereke could be in line for a second consecutive absence Sunday against the Saints after he racked up 49 tackles (31 solo) through his first seven games with the Panthers.

Devin Lloyd

LB

Lloyd played every single defensive snap and co-led the Panthers in tackles with Tyrel Dodson. It was the fifth time this season that Lloyd has logged at least seven combined tackles, and the fifth-year pro is up to 54 stops (32 solo), including 2.0 sacks, four pass defenses (including one interception and a pick-six) across seven regular-season games.

Damien Lewis

G

Lewis has missed the Panthers' last two games due to a knee injury, but his full session Wednesday indicates that he'll be available for Sunday's NFC South tilt against the Saints. His return gives the Panthers more depth at offensive guard behind starters Robert Hunt and Torricelli Simpkins.

John Metchie III

WR

Both of Metchie's receptions came in the second half -- he brought in a 15-yarder midway through the third quarter and added a 25-yarder near the end of the fourth. The latter catch took the ball down to Denver's nine-yard line and set up a Panthers touchdown, but Carolina ultimately was unable to complete the comeback. Metchie has been consistent but relatively unremarkable this season, logging either two or three receptions in six straight games but not surpassing Sunday's 40 yards in any of those contests.

Mitchell Evans

TE

For the third game in a row, Evans drew exactly two targets and caught both of them Sunday. With that said, he also again trailed in snaps at tight end (31) behind teammates Tommy Tremble (46) and Darren Waller (35), both of whom also drew more targets in Week 9. Evans' role in the Panthers' passing offense isn't big enough to warrant fantasy consideration in most formats going into a Week 10 matchup at New Orleans.

Trevor Etienne

RB

Etienne once again saw limited action offensively, playing just seven snaps. The 2025 fourth-round pick was the only running back other than Chuba Hubbard to record a carry and should continue to serve as the team's No. 2 back while Jonathon Brooks remains sidelined due to an abdomen injury.

Ryan Fitzgerald

PK

Fitzgerald went without a field-goal make for the second time in three weeks, and he pushed his only field-goal attempt of the day wide right from 43 yards in the second quarter. The miss was his first on a field-goal try this year, and the kicker now has gone 13-for-14 on field-goal attempts, including 3-for-3 from 50-plus yards, while making 16 of 21 extra-point attempts over eight regular-season contests so far.

Jaycee Horn

CB

Horn has had a productive NFL career, amassing 196 total tackles (139 solo), including 2.0 sacks, and 10 interceptions across 56 regular-season games over six seasons. He underwent surgery on his quad back in September. However, until Horn is back on the field or there is a more informative update, he should be considered week-to-week.

Ja'Tavion Sanders

TE

Sanders was active for the first time this season. However, he didn't log any offensive snaps and spent all his time on special teams. The 23-year-old has appeared in 30 regular-season games during his career, amassing 62 catches (77 targets) for 532 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders has had a few quality performances throughout his short NFL career, though he likely won't have an opportunity to get involved offensively moving ahead while Tommy Tremble and Darren Waller are in the mix.

TeRah Edwards

DT

Haynes King

QB

AJ Dillon

RB

Jalen Coker

WR

It was yet another quiet game from Coker, who has been held below 40 receiving yards in four of the last five games. Since his massive 8-138-2 receiving line in Week 1, Coker has averaged just 3.8 catches for 65.5 receiving yards per game over his last six contests. He has only one touchdown during that span. Coker will be in a bounce-back spot against the Saints at the Superdome next Sunday.

Tommy Tremble

TE

The Panthers continue to use three tight ends heavily on offense, and Tremble has settled in as the do-it-all tight member of the trio, while Darren Waller is solely a pass catcher and Mitchell Evans focuses on blocking. Tremble doesn't have nearly the upside of Waller, but the former still draws Bryce Young's eye in the red zone. On the year, Tremble is up to 21 grabs for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 30 targets across eight games. He's not an exciting fantasy option.

Darren Waller

TE

The veteran tight end was Bryce Young's favorite option on the afternoon, leading the Panthers in catches, targets and receiving yards, and Waller was on the other end of a 15-yard TD strike from the QB in the third quarter. It was Waller's most productive game since he returned from a brief retirement last season, and through eight games in 2026 he's put together a 23-299-4 line on 35 targets. He'll look to keep rolling in Week 10 against the Saints.

Tetairoa McMillan

WR

The second-year wideout caught Bryce Young's third TD of the afternoon, a four-yard toss late in the fourth quarter that gave the Panthers some late hope. It was McMillan's first trip to the end zone since Week 4, and through eight games he's collected a 46-625-3 line on 71 targets. He'll look to build on this performance in a Week 10 road trip to New Orleans.

Chuba Hubbard

RB

The 27-year-old RB nearly produced 100-plus scrimmage yards for the fifth time in the last six games but fell just short. Hubbard remains on track for a career-best campaign, and through eight games he's delivered 619 yards and five TDs on the ground while adding a 26-167-2 line on 31 targets. He lines up for a juicy matchup in Week 10 against the Saints.

Bryce Young

QB

The fourth-year QB tossed TDs in each of the last three quarters, finding Tommy Tremble, Darren Waller and Tetairoa McMillan, but Young's attempt to engineer a game-winning drive inside the final two minutes ended on a Nik Bonitto strip sack. It's the third time this season Young has thrown three touchdowns, but his first such performance since Week 2. He'll take a 16:6 TD:INT through eight games into a Week 10 clash with the Saints.

Torricelli Simpkins III

G

Simpkins didn't suit up in the Week 8 loss to Green Bay due to an ankle injury, though it won't keep him off the field again for Sunday's meeting with the Broncos.

Corey Bullock

C

Bullock was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. However, after logging full sessions Thursday and Friday, he is good to go for Week 9.