The Carolina Panthers won’t have one of their standout rookies for this afternoon’s battle with the Kansas City Chiefs.
As announced by the team about an hour and a half before today’s kickoff, wide receiver Jalen Coker will not be active against the defending Super Bowl champions. The 23-year-old did not participate in Friday’s practice due to a quadriceps injury and was listed as questionable coming into the weekend.
Coker, an undrafted free-agent signee from this past spring, has recorded 17 catches for 263 yards and a touchdown over seven career games. His 263 receiving yards are currently the 11th-most by any rookie this season.
Luckily for the Panthers, they will be getting back fellow wideout Adam Thielen—who is set to return after missing seven games with a hamstring injury. The 11th-year veteran led Carolina in targets (137), receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,014) in 2023.
Here’s the full list of inactives for the Panthers in Week 12:
- CB Shemar Bartholomew
- WR Jalen Coker
- DL Jaden Crumedy
- OLB Thomas Incoom
- OLB DJ Johnson
- OL Jarrett Kingston
- S Jammie Robinson
And for the visiting Chiefs . . .
- OT Ethan Driskell
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- OL C.J. Hanson
- DE Cameron Thomas
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu