DONALD WATKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST


Panthers receiver Jalen Coker and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders celebrate during Carolina’s 31-28 win against the Los Angeles Rams Nov. 30 at Bank of America Stadium. Coker caught a team-best four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Dave Canales saw everything fall into place. 

The Carolina Panthers coach discovered the matchup he wanted for a fourth-and-3 play from the Panthers’ 33: Second-year wide receiver Jalen Coker lined up against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. in press-man coverage. 

One of the NFL’s top fourth-down aficionados, Canales saw an opportunity and called for quarterback Bryce Young to hit Coker for a momentum-stealing touchdown pass, fueling the Panthers to Sunday’s 31-28, come-from-behind win at Bank of America Stadium. 

Off a two-step drop, Young delivered a crisp deep pass. In-stride, Coker caught the ball at the 14 and dragged Forbes into the end zone. 

Canales was asked during his post-game press conference what he saw leading to Coker’s first touchdown of the season. “Just matchups … and Jalen Coker.” 

The Panthers expected a lot from Coker entering the season. A 2024 undrafted free agent, Coker’s role grew steadily throughout his rookie campaign, ending with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. He continued to solidify his role as a top 3 receiver during the offseason program and training camp. 

Among Coker’s preseason highlights, there was the 34-yard, one-handed catch against Cleveland. With Coker emerging as a versatile receiver, general manager Dan Morgan traded veteran Adam Thielen to Minnesota with the intention of using Coker in the slot while also being able to line up outside.  

The plan stalled, however, when Coker pulled a quad muscle leading up to the opener. He remained on injured reserve until Week 7, slowly working his way back into the flow of the offense. Before Sunday, he had just one outing with more than 36 receiving yards. 

Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik have repeatedly expressed their desire to get Coker going over the past two months. But his production remained limited – until Sunday.   

Along with his fourth-down scoring reception, Coker caught a clinching 10-yard, first-down pass with 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter. He finished with a team-high four catches for 74 yards.  

“That’s him,” said rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who caught the game-winning, 43-yard touchdown pass with 6:34 remaining on a fourth-and-2 call. “He’s proven day-in and day-out that he’s capable of making plays. There’s no surprise there at all.” 

The Panthers entered Monday leading the NFL with 30 fourth-down attempts and remained tied with the Kansas City Chiefs with 21 conversions. Of the 247 points the Panthers produced this season, 112 have come on drives that included a fourth-down conversion, according to CBS Sports. 

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