Coker recorded four receptions on six targets for 110 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-14 loss to the Cowboys.
Coker returned from a three-game absence and immediately stepped back into a significant role. He finished second on the team in targets and tied for second in receptions, and the highlight of his performance came on an 83-yard touchdown just before halftime. Coker has at least six targets in three of his last four games, so he should maintain a consistent role in the offense down the stretch, though his results may remain unpredictable due to the inconsistency of Bryce Young.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Another full practice
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Coker (quadriceps) practiced fully Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Coker kicked off Week 15 prep with a full session, as he did one week prior, but he was able to maintain that activity level this time around after being limited last Thursday and a non-participant one day later. He ultimately missed a third straight game this past Sunday at Philadelphia due to a quadriceps injury. On Wednesday, coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of the Associated Press that Coker has been able to attack his routes this week, something that was missing in advance of Week 14 action, and with back-to-back uncapped sessions now under his belt, he's set to suit up for the first time since Week 10.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Practices in full Wednesday
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Coker (quadriceps) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Coker also began Week 14 as a full participant at practice, before being downgraded to limited participation and then no participation in the Panthers' ensuing two practices prior to sitting out a third straight game in this past Sunday's loss to Philadelphia. Head coach Dave Canales expressed more optimism Wednesday that Coker won't take a step back in activity this week, noting that the undrafted rookie displayed an ability to attack routes that he was previously lacking, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Coker will work to remain a full participant Thursday and Friday, and if he does, he'll return to action Sunday versus Dallas.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Another absence Sunday
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Coker (quadriceps) is inactive for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Coker appeared as if he may be in line to make his first appearance since Week 10 following a full practice Wednesday, but he followed it up with a limited session Thursday and no activity whatsoever Friday, forecasting his third absence in a row due to a quad injury. With the undrafted rookie sidelined, Carolina will rely on Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, David Moore, Deven Thompkins and Dan Chisena to man wide receiver Sunday.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Doubtful for Week 14
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Coker (quadriceps) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.
Coker seemingly had a setback this week, going from full participation Wednesday to limited Thursday and non-participation Friday. He'll likely miss a third straight game, leaving Carolina with poor depth behind WRs Xavier Legette, David Moore and Adam Thielen.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Falls back to limited Thursday
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Coker (quadriceps) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Coker is vying to put an end to a two-game absence due to a quad injury, but he followed up Wednesday's full session with a cap on his reps one day later, which could be a worrisome sign for his upcoming availability. Ultimately, Friday's practice report will reveal Coker's odds to return to action Sunday at Philadelphia.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Practicing in full
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Coker (quadricep) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Coker has missed the Panthers' last two contests and couldn't practice in any capacity last week, but he now looks to be on track to return to the field Sunday against the Eagles. That said, with all of Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette and David Moore currently on hand at receiver for Carolina, Coker may not have a clear path to steady snaps in three-wideout sets.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: DNP again Thursday
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Coker (quadriceps) was listed as a non-participant on Thursday's injury report, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Coker has been a listed DNP on three consecutive injury reports stretching back to last week as he tends to a quad issue that sidelined him this past Sunday versus the Chiefs. He thus will have just one more chance to get back on the field this week before the Panthers potentially make a ruling on his status ahead of Sunday's contest against the Buccaneers.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Sidelined for practice Wednesday
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Coker (quadricep) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Coker was a late addition to the Panthers' injury report last Friday due to a quad issue that left him questionable for Week 12 action. He eventually was deemed inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Chiefs, and he now has missed two straight practice sessions as a result of the injury. Head coach Dave Canales told Joe Person of The Athletic on Wednesday that he doesn't expect Coker to be available Sunday versus the Buccaneers, something that may be confirmed by the time Carolina posts its final report of the week Friday.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Questionable with quad injury
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Coker is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Kansas City after missing Friday's practice with a quadriceps injury.
An end-of-week addition to the injury report isn't good news, and Coker's role was already somewhat in flux due to the impending return of Adam Thielen (who is listed as questionable but expected to play). The undrafted rookie presumably has shown enough that the Panthers will want to keep playing him, even if that means moving him out of the slot and to the perimeter in an effort to accommodate Thielen. Unfortunately, we won't get to see the new plan if Coker ends up on the inactive list 90 minutes ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Team-high yardage total in OT win
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Coker brought in three of eight targets for 41 yards in the Panthers' 20-17 overtime win over the Giants in Munich on Sunday.
Coker's yardage total, modest as it was, led the Panthers on the day, as did his career-high target tally. The undrafted rookie has displayed good chemistry with Bryce Young and is now boasting a 9-155-1 line on 17 targets in the latter's three-game starting stint. With Diontae Johnson now in Baltimore, Coker should continue to enjoy a prominent role during a Week 12 home matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday, Nov. 24 following a Week 11 bye, although Adam Thielen (IR, hamstring) is expected back for that game.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Set to play
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Coker (foot) is active Sunday against the Bears.
Coker saw a limited role in his NFL debut last week and will likely see a similar workload Sunday, operating as a depth option with Adam Thielen (hamstring) out of action.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Questionable after full practice
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Coker (foot) practiced in full Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said all players listed as questionable have a good chance to suit up Sunday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. That lends optimism to the notion that Coker will be able to suit up versus Chicago. Coker handled a depth role in his regular-season debut Week 4, and he failed to secure his only target.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Gets downgraded
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Coker (foot) did not practice Thursday.
Coker was a full participant Wednesday, suggesting he may have injured his foot in practice. A late-week downgrade isn't typically a good sign for a player's weekend availability, but the Holy Cross product will try and get back on the field Friday ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Bears.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Joining active roster
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The Panthers will sign Coker to the 53-man roster Tuesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Coker will be added to the roster as a replacement for Adam Thielen (hamstring), who will be placed on injured reserve. An undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross, Coker failed to make the Panthers' roster coming out of the preseason but secured a spot on the practice squad. Now that he's been promoted, Coker is expected to serve as a depth piece in Carolina's wide receiver room until Thielen returns.
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Jalen Coker: Waived by Panthers
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The Panthers waived Coker on Wednesday, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Coker made the Panthers' initial 53-man roster, but he's now been dropped as a result of the team's waiver claims, per Zietlow. The Holy Cross product was one of the top undrafted free-agents from the 2024 draft class, so he could definitely find his way onto another practice squad or active roster heading into his rookie campaign.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Activated off PUP list
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The Panthers activated Coker (undisclosed) off the active/PUP list Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Coker signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross in April after leading the FCS with 15 receiving touchdowns in 2023. Coker will be ready for the start of Panthers training camp Wednesday, and he'll compete for a spot on the end of the wide receiver depth chart.
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Panthers' Jalen Coker: Placed on PUP list
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The Panthers placed Coker (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Coker linked up with Carolina as an undrafted free agent back in April, and it appears he picked up an injury at some point during spring practices. Once healthy and ready to practice, Coker will be eligible to come off the PUP list at any time this summer. The reigning FCS leader in receiving touchdowns, Coker is competing for an end-of-roster role in Carolina's wide receiver room.
