CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette opened the preseason Friday night with a hit that earned him a disqualification.
Actually, it was multiple hits.
The 2024 first-round pick appeared to land four swings on Rayshawn Jenkins of the Browns when an extended block on a run play against the safety went awry during the preseason opener for both teams, a 30-10 Cleveland win.
Jenkins, who ripped Legette’s helmet off while the receiver continued to block after the play appeared to be over, was also disqualified.
Panthers coach Dave Canales was right in front of the play.
“We ask our receivers to finish the play with hands on. He was,” Canales said. “He had his hands on the guy the whole time. Through the echo of the whistle the guy swung and chopped his arm down. Xavier just kind of held on to his jersey.
“Then they started exchanging punches. You can’t do that. … We want to see better from X.”
Legette was not in the locker room after the game but apologized in a social media post.
Panthers nation I apologize It want happen again ‼️‼️ i appreCiate youu all🫡
— Xavier Legette (@XavierLegette) August 8, 2025
Legette, who didn’t have a catch before his ejection, is coming off an underwhelming rookie season in which he had 49 catches on 84 targets and was among the league leaders in dropped passes. His rookie year was so up-and-down that the Panthers used the No. 8 pick of the 2025 draft on Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who immediately assumed the No. 1 receiver role for quarterback Bryce Young.
“It’s football — it’s a physical sport,” Young said Friday night. “X is an ultimate competitor. It’s a part of the game.”
Legette has been drawing attention off the field on social media — for rescuing a friend stuck in the mud on an ATV and for being afraid to get into the St. Croix River during a pre-training camp trip to Minnesota set up by Young and receiver Adam Thielen. Legette also attended the Kentucky Derby, where he met celebrity chef Guy Fieri, with whom he wouldn’t share his entire recipe for raccoon.