The Carolina Panthers wrapped up their final practice of the week ahead of Sunday’s Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns, and the injury report features several important names on both sides of the ball.

The Panthers have already ruled out linebackers Devin Lloyd and Claudin Cherelus along with starting safety Nick Scott while listing two wide receivers as questionable.

Things are looking up at WR for Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette

The first significant update involves wide receiver Jalen Coker, one of the Panthers’ top offensive weapons through the first two weeks of the season. It was a concerning sight on Monday when Coker was spotted inside the building wearing a walking boot, though it just was more of a precaution is what he told reporters.

Coker managed to ramp up by the end of the week. He was limited on Wednesday, did not practice Thursday, then head coach Dave Canales said he looked good Friday as a limited participant. That’s not a guarantee that he will be available Sunday against Cleveland. Coker has emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the league, and keeping him on the field is critical for a passing offense operating at a high level.

Another wide receiver worth monitoring is Xavier Legette. Legette told reporters on Monday that he was undergoing an MRI on his knee. He ended up being a full participant on Wednesday before sitting out Thursday’s practice. Like Coker, Legette returned to practice on Friday as a limited participant but will truly be questionable going into the weekend.

Any missed time would be detrimental for Legette this season. Entering Year 3 with the Panthers, Legette said this is a do-or-die season for the former first-round pick. The fact that his MRI did not reveal a severe injury is welcome news for a player who needs to stay on the field and continue building on his early-season contributions.

Devin Lloyd’s update stings after near historic performance

The biggest absence on the defensive side will be linebacker Devin Lloyd, who did not practice throughout the entire week with a calf injury. Lloyd is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week after a monster performance against the Atlanta Falcons that included two interceptions, a sack, multiple tackles for a loss, while leading the team in tackles.

It ranked among the best single-game linebacker performances in Panthers history, which says a great deal for a franchise that has featured Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Jon Beason at the position. The remarkable part is that Lloyd suffered the calf injury during the game and toughed it out through the entire second half, running off pure adrenaline to deliver that kind of showing. But maybe it came at a cost.

“It just didn’t get to a place where we felt confident that he could go out there and play four quarters, and that was the decision,” Canales said on Friday. “Could he go out there and do something and we’d have to spell him and play other people, potentially. But, we just didn’t feel like – the nature of a calf injury is a fatigue type of injury – picturing a full four quarters, it was hard to with Devin. He gave it his best shot but the decision decision for Devin is giving it a week.”

Carolina added Isaiah Simmons to the active roster and Maema Njongmeta to the practice squad as a potential elevation earlier this week. The team also promoted Tyrel Dodson to the active roster last week and he will likely see action starting alongside Bobby Okereke, who will wear the green dot in Lloyd’s place.

Depth linebacker Claudin Cherelus also will not play after he did not practice all week with a shoulder injury, further thinning the depth at the position.

Nick Scott sidelined, but the defensive front gets reinforcements

Starting safety Nick Scott will also be out after he did not practice all week with a rib injury suffered during the Falcons game. In his absence, the Panthers turned to Lathan Ransom, the second-year player who has made plays every time he has touched the field as a reserve safety. Rookie Zakee Wheatley also made his debut in Week 2 and delivered a strong showing with a forced fumble on his first defensive snap. Canales said it will be a mix of both to make up for the loss of Scott.

“Lathan did an outstanding job,” Evero said. “The one thing you can never mistake about him, he’s always going to be prepared. I just got to credit this young man, really since the day he walked into the building, he’s going to do everything extra and spent time with the coaches on his own… He’s going to prepare, he’s made of the right stuff and wired the right way. He’s our kind of player and a guy that we have a lot of confidence in.”

The good news for the defense is the return of Pat Jones II. Jones was a full participant all week after dealing with a back injury that sidelined him for the first two games of the season. He will be back on the edge opposite Jaelen Phillips, adding another pass rusher who can help get after Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Veteran defensive tackle Bobby Brown is also expected to return after missing Week 2 with a back injury.

“What Pat brings uniquely is just his physical style of play,” Canales said last week. “He’s a big man and plays with violence, great effort and strain, all those things. That’s unique in it’s own way, that’s his style of ball. Our guys play their tails off as well, but Pat certainly does make a difference when he’s out there in the run game and he’s versatile in terms of how he can rush.”

Getting Jones and Brown back gives the Panthers’ defensive front a significant boost heading into a matchup where pressuring the quarterback will be a priority.