Panthers Activate Xavier Legette From Injured Reserve Ahead of Saints Showdown

The Carolina Panthers activated wide receiver Xavier Legette from injured reserve Saturday before leaving for Sunday's NFC South matchup with the New Orleans Saints.

Legette has been sidelined since hurting his knee in Carolina's Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons, a game in which he hauled in a 55-yard catch. He is still listed as questionable, but the activation puts the 2024 first-round pick (No. 32 overall) in line to play for the first time in nearly two months.

His return gives the Panthers a fifth active receiver after veteran David Moore was released earlier in the week and re-signed to the practice squad.

Carolina also patched a thin cornerback room by elevating Marco Wilson and Corey Thornton from the practice squad. Before those moves, Chau Smith-Wade and rookie special teamer Malcolm DeWalt IV were the only healthy corners on the active roster. Rookie Will Lee III, who has started with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson sidelined, is questionable after missing last week with a hamstring injury. Wilson, who has 39 career starts, mostly with Arizona, has started the last two games. It is his third elevation of the season, the most allowed before a team must sign a player to the 53-man roster.

Three other players with open practice windows (Jackson, offensive lineman Brady Christensen and running back Jonathon Brooks) were not activated and are ruled out.

The stakes are bigger than the records suggest. The Panthers and Saints are both 3-5, and the winner moves into sole possession of first place in the NFC South. New Orleans is getting a backfield boost of its own with Travis Etienne Jr. returning from injured reserve. Kickoff at the Caesars Superdome is 10 a.m. PT Sunday on Fox.