Panthers lose WR Chris Brazzell II to season-ending knee injury

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th July, 15:45 2026

Chris Brazzell II reaches for the ball during Tennessee Football Pro Day 2026, at University of Tennessee on March 31, 2026.

Panthers rookie third-round pick Chris Brazzell II is out for the season just days into his first NFL training camp.

The Panthers confirmed Thursday the wide receiver will undergo season-ending surgery on the lateral collateral ligament of his left knee and will be placed on injured reserve.

Brazzell was injured Wednesday while taking part in seven-on-seven drills and was carted off the field. He sought a second opinion that confirmed the extent of the injury.

It's the second season-ending knee injury in one week since the Panthers opened training camp. Nic Scourton tore his ACL on the first day of camp last week and was also ruled out for the season. Scourton, a second-round pick in 2025, had 5.0 sacks and started eight of his 17 games as a rookie.

Brazzell was viewed as a potential high-impact, big-play weapon by the Panthers. At 6-4, 200, he can fly on vertical routes -- his confirmed 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine was 4.37 seconds -- and be useful across the field as a complementary target to 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan.

Carolina drafted McMillan and wide receiver Xavier Legette (32nd overall in 2024) in the first round of back-to-back drafts.

Jalen Coker is projected to be the starting slot receiver in a three-wideout alignment, with John Metchie III, Jimmy Horn Jr., David Moore and Ja'seem Reed among those vying for reps with Brazzell hurt.

--Field Level Media

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