A season that had not even reached August is already over for Carolina Panthers rookie receiver Chris Brazzell II. The third-round pick will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee, abruptly ending a training-camp audition that had been building real momentum.
ABC11 reported Thursday, citing a source familiar with the situation, that Brazzell suffered a torn lateral collateral ligament and will have surgery after seeking a second medical opinion. The Panthers had initially expected the moderate injury to be treated without surgery, but the updated recommendation shifted the plan toward long-term recovery.
The injury happened during a noncontact 7-on-7 drill Wednesday at training camp. In an earlier Panthers.com camp update, coach Dave Canales said Brazzell had felt soreness in the same knee, then stopped during the drill and was helped off the field without putting weight on his left leg.
Carolina Loses A Promising Deep Threat
Brazzell arrived in Charlotte as one of the more intriguing pieces of Carolina's 2026 draft class. The Panthers selected the 6-foot-4 Tennessee receiver 83rd overall after he produced 62 catches for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, according to Tennessee Athletics.
His size, body control and reported 4.37-second speed made him a natural candidate for the Panthers' vertical passing game. The team's own offensive preview identified Brazzell as a potential early impact player while he competed for the No. 3 receiver role behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, with Xavier Legette also in the mix.
Panthers Begin Reworking Receiver Depth
Carolina has already started adding bodies to a receiver room that suddenly looks thinner. The team signed former Falcons wideout Casey Washington on Wednesday, then added undrafted rookie Gabriel Benyard on Thursday; the Panthers said the moves came as Dan Chisena went on injured reserve and Brazzell went down.
The setback also lands amid a rough opening stretch for Carolina's camp. Outside linebacker Nic Scourton was placed on injured reserve after a right-knee injury, while left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton opened camp on the physically unable-to-perform or non-football illness lists; Hoodline previously tracked another camp blow involving Scourton.
For Brazzell, the focus now turns from winning snaps to rehabilitation and preparing for his second NFL season. For the Panthers, the immediate answer will come from a reshuffled receiver competition, with McMillan, Coker, Legette, John Metchie III and the newly added veterans facing larger opportunities before the regular season begins.
