CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 鈥� wide receiver Xavier Legette may not be playing in Saturday鈥檚 preseason game at the Buffalo Bills after suffering a stinger early in training camp.
A former first-round draft pick, Legette closed the team鈥檚 practice session Wednesday with what head coach Dave Canales called a 鈥渨alk off touchdown鈥� catch from quarterback Bryce Young.
Canales had a positive outlook about Legette following his return to practice Wednesday.
鈥淚t was good to see him back out there, playing like himself and playing fast,鈥� Canales said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think he鈥檒l play (Saturday). We haven鈥檛 gotten him to that level of conditioning. He鈥檚 doing a phenomenal job and he鈥檚 a guy that we鈥檙e counting on.鈥�
Legette said he spent the offseason working to improve his skills and that he recognized why some are questioning his future, especially after losing his starting job late last season to undrafted free agent Jalen Coker.
“I鈥檓 just focusing on the details,鈥� said Legette, who was injured in an Aug. 4 practice session after landing awkwardly on his head and neck. 鈥淓verything that was on tape last year that was bad, I looked at that and tried to do things better. I鈥檓 always trying to work on getting better.鈥�
The last pick of the first round of the 2024 draft, Legette has caught 84 passes for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in 31 games.
Legette was asked if his confidence had been shaken following last year鈥檚 35-catch season, down from the 49 receptions he had during his rookie year.
鈥淚 ain鈥檛 never lost my confidence,鈥� Legette said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to continue to make plays. I鈥檓 happy to be here.鈥�
In addition to workouts at the Panthers facility, Legette said he, along with other Carolina receivers, worked out with Young in Los Angeles and Arizona this offseason in hopes of improving on his receiving skills and chemistry with his quarterback.
鈥淚鈥檓 just working on the details and trying to get those things right,鈥� Legette said.
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