Oh boy! What fun it is being a Carolina Panthers fan.
This was going to be a game review of the Arizona Cardinals’ 27-22 victory over the Panthers.
I was also going to dive into Bryce Young’s career day, as he almost overcame a 24-point deficit. The franchise comeback record stands at 17 points so this could have been historic.
It was a turbulent start. He was strip-sacked for a defensive touchdown, then intercepted on the first two drives – before Kyler Murray had even taken to the field. Young was looking like he was at risk of being benched again.
However, he picked his chin up and set new career numbers for completions (35), attempts (55) and passing yards (328), and equalled his passing touchdown high (3).
Legette lets the side down
However, there is another pressing matter that I need to get off my chest.
Last season, I wrote an article defending rookie first-round receiver Xavier Legette. I felt the fanbase were unnecessarily and prematurely getting on a young player’s back.
There was nothing that could not be ironed out over time with experience and nurturing from NFL-quality coaches. In the season opener in Jacksonville, he came under understandable criticism.
He was targeted seven times by Young, catching three passes for a total of 10 yards. One of those was a nine-yard reception.
Feet first
Two plays specifically got people’s backs up – and it was not just the fans.
Trailing 17-3 with a minute left in the first half, Carolina were at Jacksonville’s 39-yard line. Legette ran a nice corner route to the right sideline and Young threw a perfectly weighted pass 20 yards. Legette caught it, seemingly inbounds for a big gain.
The call was ruled incomplete. Upon review, Legette caught the ball with more than enough green turf to get two feet inbounds. However, his right foot took a stride to the white sideline.
This is basic stuff. There was ample field to make sure both feet were inbounds for a complete catch. It is an error that a rookie would get criticised for. Two plays later, the ball was turned over via a Young fumble and Jacksonville had time to kick an extra three points before half-time.
Mental block
Early in the third quarter on a 2nd-and-1, a run was called for Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard juked right but was met at the line of scrimmage by cornerback Jarrian Jones. Legette was lined up in front of Jones, putting his hands up but failing to block.
Apart front lifting his hands up, he barely even moved. Then, he walked off towards the sideline as Hubbard was stopped. The effort was appalling. A simple block could have resulted in an easy first down.
FOX commentator Mark Schlereth had some choice words following that play: “Listen, if you’re not gonna catch the ball, remember out of bounds, use your feet to get in there. And if you’re not gonna get involved in blocking, then why do we have you out here right now?
“Because at that particular point in time, in a short yardage situation, you’re playing patty cake out there… Put your nose on the DB to make the tackle and block somebody!”
In Arizona, he was targeted eight times, making only one catch for -2 yards. This stat making him only the second player – and first receiver – to have at least eight targets with negative yards.
Running back Jamaal Charles holds the record with -6 receiving yards from eight targets playing for Kansas City in 2013. Legette also had a rushing attempt for no gain.
Even Tremayne is trying
Brycen Tremayne outplayed Legette. Tremayne is playing in his third season in the league after going undrafted in 2023. He spent the 2023 season on the Washington Commanders practice squad, not playing a game.
In 2024, he played in two games, was targeted once and made one catch for -2 yards. Those were his career stats entering Week 2 game: one catch for negative yards over two seasons!
He was a surprise inclusion to the Panthers’ 53-man roster, given these underwhelming stats. Yet a solid training camp, good preseason performances and a talent on special teams earned him a spot over a few other highly regarded receivers battling to make the roster.
In the end, he was targeted five times against Arizona, catching three passes for 48 yards including a 26-yard reception.
No-hurry offense
A video has surfaced on social media showing Legette’s lack of urgency in getting back to the line of scrimmage with the clock ticking down to half-time. On third down, Bryce Young connected with tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders for a first down with 79 yards still to go and 60 seconds on the clock.
With Arizona due to receive the ball to begin the second half, time was of the essence. Trailing 13-3, the Panthers needed to try to get some points on the board.
With everyone else lining up, Legette was still walking back to the line on the wrong side of the field. He then jogged across the line from the left to the right to line up in position, eventually.
By this time, the officials had reviewed the previous play and ruled Sanders’ catch incomplete, resulting in a fourth down and a Panthers punt. Arizona scored a touchdown in the remaining time, making the score 20-3 at the break, then got the ball to start the second half.
If Legette was urgent and Carolina got a play off before the officials could review the play, the Panthers could have got into field goal position. Instead, Arizona has possession and scored seven.
Legette’s mentality must be investigated as his lack of awareness is startling.
A few positives
Tetairoa McMillan is playing extremely well as a rookie in the first two weeks. With 168 receiving yards, he has had the best rookie start over two games from a Panthers receiver ever.
Jalen Coker is looking like the team’s number two receiver, despite not playing yet this season. He was placed on injured reserve right before the season started and is expected back around Week 5.
His performances last season as an undrafted rookie were superb, outplaying Legette during the final stretch. Dave Canales and Dan Morgan are high on him, as are the fanbase. He is the reason the organisation felt comfortable trading away Young’s security blanket, Adam Thielen.
Hunter Renfrow stepped into Thielen’s void in Arizona as the experienced slot receiver. He was targeted nine times, making seven catches for 48 yards, including two of Young’s three touchdowns.
Pick your poison
With Tremayne looking good and Coker’s imminent return, where does Xavier Legette now rank among Carolina’s receiving corps? The organisation will feel pressure to get the best first-round draft pick. But let us face it, he is a second rounder.
After trading their 2024 first round pick away in 2023 for the first overall selection from Chicago, Carolina’s first pick was 33rd overall – the start of the second round.
Dan Morgan made a trade with Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, an old friend, to go up for the last pick of the first round for Xavier Legette. It was only one place higher to 32nd overall, just to secure the fifth-year option on the player.
Many other organisations had a second-round grade on Legette. Only the Panthers held him in such high regard as a player from South Carolina. If the trade was not made, I believe the same outcome would have occurred: the Bills would have selected Keon Coleman 32nd overall on Day 1, and Carolina would have picked Legette 33rd overall on Day 2.
So where do we stand?
Legette has until Week 9 of this season to win over the fans before the trade deadline. He is already being hounded out like Jonathan Mingo, a second-round receiver selected in 2023.
Mingo had an underwhelming rookie season. His second year was no better and he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys before the 2024 trade deadline.
It is clear the organisation wants to give Legette time. After all, Dan Morgan will want to see his investment pay off.
Dave Canales said on Monday that Legette will continue to get reps, and they still have plans for him on this offense.
The fans may not have that patience.
