Carolina wide receiver Xavier Leggett scored his first NFL touchdown in Sunday’s game between the Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Leggett caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to tie the game at 14-14.
The catch was Leggett’s fifth of the game. As of this report, Leggett boasts five catches for 49 yards. It’s a career day for the former South Carolina standout. He entered Sunday’s game with just six catches this season.
The Panthers will welcome Leggett’s improved production. The team placed standout wide receiver Adam Thielen on injured reserve earlier this week after suffering a hamstring injury against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Xavier Leggett steps up in Adam Thielen’s absence
The earliest Thielen can return is Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. Thielen had eight receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown in three games this season, his 12th year in the NFL.
Earlier this week, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik explained the importance of other receivers stepping up in Thielen’s absence.
“When you’re in your 30s, sometimes you have to give your dog a vet’s day,” Idzik says. “I mean, there’s a lot of guys who are getting Adam’s agent as well. I mean, there’s a cycle of guys in that room from top to bottom. They all have a chance to execute the game plan and stay involved. I’m getting it.
“So I’m really excited about the whole group and their attention to detail, their ability to play multiple positions and just kind of plug and play and make sure we don’t miss a beat.”
Thielen was the Panthers’ leading wide receiver last season, Bryce Young’s rookie year, catching 103 passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in Carolina’s disappointing 2-15 season. did.
This is the first time he has recorded 1,000 or more receiving yards in consecutive seasons, having done so in 2017 and 2018 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
