The Carolina Panthers have activated wide receiver Jalen Coker and offensive lineman Austin Corbett from injured reserve, making both players available for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. At the same time, outside linebacker Patrick Jones II has been placed on injured reserve due to a back injury that will require surgery, ending his season.
Coker had been sidelined since Week 1 with a quadriceps strain suffered in practice before the team’s opener. He has returned to practice over the past two weeks as he prepares to rejoin the lineup. Last season, Coker caught 32 passes for 478 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per reception.
“Jalen’s been huge ever since he got here,” quarterback Bryce Young said. “Great player, of course, but on the outside of just that great for the locker room. Works super hard.”
Corbett sustained a left knee injury during Week 2 against Arizona and returned to practice this week. His return provides depth to an offensive line that has used five different starting combinations in six weeks but continues to perform at a high level. The unit currently ranks fourth in rushing yards and seventh in sacks allowed per pass play across the league. Despite these challenges, two key linemen—Pro Bowler Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala—remain on injured reserve.
Left guard Damien Lewis is listed as questionable after being added to the injury report Thursday with a shoulder issue. Head coach Dave Canales described him as a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup. If Lewis is unable to play, Corbett could fill in at guard; he previously started at right guard for the Los Angeles Rams during their Super Bowl-winning season.
With Jones out for the remainder of this year, rookie Nic Scourton is expected to take over his starting role at outside linebacker. Additionally, Boogie Basham was called up from the practice squad by standard elevation—the second such move this season after his Panthers debut in Week 4—to provide additional depth at linebacker.
