Bryce Young, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, expressed strong support for wide receiver Xavier Legette as he returns from a hamstring injury. Legette missed the last two games while recovering but has resumed practice this week.
Legette acknowledged that he still needs to prove himself to fans and critics. “I want to prove to the fans and all that whoever, whoever the doubters is out there, whoever think I ain’t it,” said Legette on Wednesday. “I think it’s more so, they’re just waiting for me to show them. That’s what I think. Because for folks who say I ain’t a good player. I mean, that’s, I feel like that’s way out of sight.”
Young highlighted Legette’s commitment during his rehabilitation period: “X doesn’t need a message,” Young said. “He’s a great player, I’m super excited for him to be back. You know, people want to say things; if everyone could see the work that he was putting in these last couple weeks, him dying to be on the field, him wanting to be up, wanting to— asking coaches, asking trainers, ‘Hey, what can I do? How I want to do this X, Y, Z.’ He doesn’t need a message. He doesn’t need a pep talk. He’s ready to go. Again, being able to have him back is huge for us as a team, as an offense, for me, so I’m just excited.”
Before his injury in practice ahead of the Falcons game, Legette had four receptions for 15 yards over two games this season and promised improvement after the Arizona matchup.
Head coach Dave Canales commented on what he hopes to see from Legette’s return: “I’m just waiting for that one play where I can see him smile and just make a play, just get the weight off of you. You’re just out here to play football, just do your part, so I’m excited for the work he’s put in and excited to see him this week.”
Canales also discussed how opposing defenses have been targeting Legette: “I think guys are aware of X—Xavier—and how fast he is and how big he is, and they’re trying to attack that. They’re trying to get their hands on him early so he can’t build up his speed…I saw improvement going into the Arizona game. I saw him play faster.”
With Legette sidelined or limited in production early in the season due to both performance issues and injury setbacks—some attributed by coaches and teammates simply to situational factors—the Panthers have relied more heavily on Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan has recorded 18 receptions for 278 yards so far.
McMillan emphasized Legette’s importance: “Man, everybody knows what he can do,” McMillan said of his teammate. “So he’s a big part of his offense, a big part of this team, and we need him to make this thing go.”
Legette remains confident despite recent challenges: “I do those types of things within myself,” Legette said regarding maintaining confidence. “So I mean it ain’t really nothing nobody could tell me they going to try to uplift my confidence because my confidence ain’t never left.”
As Carolina prepares for its Week 5 matchup against Miami Dolphins, Young reaffirmed his trust in Legette: “I don’t need to see something or waiting for anything. I know what he’s capable of. I know what he’s going to do,” said Young. “X is ready to go. X is a great player. He’s been a great player for us. I have all the confidence in the world.”
