Two Panthers players are eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 5
The Panthers might be able to bring back some notable reinforcements following Sunday’s blowout loss against the New England Patriots.
Wide receiver Jalen Coker (calf) and defensive end LaBryan Ray (ankle) will be eligible to return from injured reserve as early as Week 5.
The team can activate their respective 21-day practice windows as early as Monday.
Update: The Panthers waived outside linebacker DJ Johnson and wide receiver Dalevon Campbell on Tuesday. Those departures open up two spots on the 53-man roster heading into Week 5, which could help the Panthers activate one or both of Coker and Ray.
Jalen Coker’s injury timeline
Coker injured his quad in practice following the league’s annual cut deadline in August. He was expected to replace Adam Thielen, who was traded in August, as the primary slot receiver in Dave Canales’ offense.
Instead, due to the injury, he has missed the first four games of the season.
“It’s week-to-week right now,” Canales said last week about Coker’s status. “He is progressing, and we’re trying to gather all the information, get him strong as possible before we can get him back out there. It’s a four-week minimum before his window opens and we’ll see what he can do.”
Tetairoa McMillan has gotten off to a strong start as the Panthers’ top wideout. Brycen Tremayne has also impressed as a rotational playmaker. Xavier Legette, though, has underwhelmed due to poor performance and a hamstring injury.
The Panthers have also worked David Moore and Hunter Renfrow into the mix with Coker sidelined. Dalevon Campbell has contributed on special teams, while Jimmy Horn Jr. has been a weekly inactive.
Moore and Campbell both left Sunday’s loss with in-game injuries. But the team brought back special teams ace/wideout Dan Chisena this past week on the practice squad.
Coker returning to the lineup would shake things up in a positive way. He had an impressive summer after a strong rookie season. As an undrafted playmaker, Coker collected 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
Another reinforcement for the trenches?
Ray, now in his third year with the team, has been sidelined since the preseason. He was a notable rotational player last year, but the Panthers have upgraded the defensive line to make his contributions less essential.
Free-agent addition, Tershawn “Turk” Wharton (hamstring), had been sidelined since Week 1, but he made his return on Sunday against the Patriots.
Ray, who knows the defense as well as anyone, could also be another welcomed return for a much-improved unit.
Ray rejoining the defensive line group would spread out the depth. The unit is headlined by Wharton, Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown and A’Shawn Robinson. Jaden Crumedy and rookie Cam Jackson have also contributed in depth roles.
Ray’s return would probably push Jackson or Crumedy down the depth chart.
What IR returns would mean for rest of roster
The Panthers’ roster is currently at the 53-man limit. If the team were to add Ray and/or Coker to the active depth chart, corresponding moves would need to be made for each return. The team does not have make corresponding moves while both players operate on their 21-day practice window.
Along with Coker and Ray, the Panthers also have center Austin Corbett (knee) and right guard Robert Hunt (biceps) on injured reserve.
Both linemen would be eligible to return in Week 7. However, both players are dealing with significant injuries that are likely to sideline them beyond that eligibility timeframe. Of the two, Corbett has the quicker outlook to return, according to Canales.
Hunt underwent biceps surgery earlier this month. His potential for a return is iffy, though Canales has said he is hopeful for a potential late-season revival.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
