Panthers coach Dave Canales raves about rookie WR Jalen Coker

Jalen Coker’s NASA-like rise to relevance for Carolina Panthers was an oasis in this wasteland of the 2024 season. The undrafted free agent burst onto the scene with an impressive performance in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears and continued to see his role expand as he displayed the impressive skills film executives saw on his “Holy Cross” tape last offseason. Panthers head coach Dave Canales lavished praise on the dazzling diamond in the rough during his media briefing Wednesday afternoon.

Canales monologue on Cocker a local reporter asked what they saw from him during the pre-draft, and why the other 31 franchises didn’t select him in the draft. Here’s what the head coach had to say: “I would say a small school. He ran a good 40 times. Often when you come from a small school, they look at production, but they also look at all the measurables. He certainly didn’t run 4.3, but he showed it.”

“He’s coming apart on NFL fields. This is not easy to do. We have to look at challenges against NFL players on the outside in the slot, and to do that with the consistency he’s shown over the last few games is awesome. .But what we’ve seen from him is that when he gets opportunities, he makes the most of them.”

Among all NFL rookie receivers, The third place is occupied by the PFF coke variety behind only Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers; one spot ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. He was fantastic. The work on Carolina’s hidden gem isn’t over, though, and Canales detailed the next evolution of his game.

“Now the challenge for Jalen is to improve his fundamentals. Improve route details. Improve the details of divisions. All the things that really help make the passing game.”

The duo of Leggett and Coker is giving Carolina Panthers fans something they haven’t had in a long time: hope. With Dionte Johnson out of the picture and Adam Thielen still sidelined with a hamstring ailment, the current dual problems will get ample opportunity to show off in the second half of the season.

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