Panthers Breakout Receiver Suffers Injury in Week 1

But on Monday, Coker was spotted in a walking boot in the Panthers’ dressing room while speaking to reporters.

“I mean, it’s just a rolled ankle; I’ll be fine,” Coker said. Coker confirmed that he expects to be practicing on Wednesday as the Panthers prepare to head to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in an NFC South divisional matchup.

It was a career day for Coker, who caught more passes than the rest of the Carolina wide receivers combined. The third-year wide receiver had a 26.5 percent target share and lined up on 84 percent of the Panthers’ offensive snaps.

Coker revealed that he had rolled his ankle in the first quarter, but continued to play through the injury. There was another play late in the fourth quarter where Coker took a low hit from a Bears defender and hobbled off the field. Despite being shaken up on both plays, Coker remained in the game after and does not expect to miss any time.

The former undrafted rookie has now outperformed Carolina’s 2025 first-round draft pick, Tetairoa McMillan, in six of the last seven games they have played together. On Sunday, McMillan had 5 catches on 8 targets with 75 receiving yards and a lost fumble. While both receivers are thriving in the Carolina offense, Coker is establishing a very strong connection with quarterback Bryce Young.

If Coker’s Week 1 performance is any indication of what is to come, the Panthers are getting great value from the extension he signed in June. Carolina inked Coker to a three-year, $35 million contract extension before the season started that will keep him in the silver and teal through the 2029 season.