CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Legette was carted off the field with a stinger injury Tuesday after landing awkwardly as he attempted to make a leaping catch in the end zone.
Stingers are injuries that impact the nerves in the upper arm, neck or shoulder and often give a player a burning sensation in his arms and hands. Most stingers resolve quickly, but some symptoms can last weeks or months.
“We’re going to evaluate him more over the next day or so and just make sure that he is in the right spot,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “We have a nice little window here to get him turned around.”
Canales said Legette does not have a concussion.
Legette will not play in the Panthers’ preseason opener on Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio.
Legette came crashing down after high-pointing a catch in the left corner of the end zone and landed hard and stayed down. Trainers rushed to his side and Legette was later seen wiggling his fingers in the air before boarding a cart.
Players shook Legette’s right hand before he was taken into the locker room.
The Panthers have already lost wide receiver Chris Brazzell, their third-round pick from Tennessee, for the season to a torn LCL injury. Legette and Brazell were expected to battle for the team’s No. 3 wide receiver spot behind Jalen Coker and last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan.
Legette had 35 catches for 363 yards and three TDs last season and lost his job late in the year to Coker.
Canales said despite the demotion he has been impressed with how Legette has responded in training camp.
“He’s been the same person since he got here,” Canales said. “He’s a tireless worker. He cares. It matters to him. He takes coaching well. He’s a very humble guy. He wants to work at the things he needs to improve on.”
Canales added that “the longer he’s with us, the less it’s about the concepts and the more it’s about just the details and fine techniques of playing the wide receiver position.”
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