Panthers rookie Xavier Legette returns to practice after foot injury

The Carolina Panthers returned multiple players to the practice field on Monday following their first preseason game – a 17-3 loss against the Patriots on Thursday. Returning from injury were rookie first-rounder Xavier Legette, tight end Tommy Tremble and linebacker Shaq Thompson.

Legette was back to catching passes from quarterback Bryce Young on Monday after he suffered a foot injury that had him out for the start of camp. He avoided a foot fracture, though he did have to miss his first preseason game.

With Legette out and Young on the sideline as a precaution, the Panthers gave the majority of the reps at quarterback to backup Jack Plummer. He went 11-for-21 for 86 yards while taking five sacks. Jordan Matthews and Ihmir Smith-Marsette led the team’s receivers with seven receptions combined for 72 yards.

Xavier Legette back on the practice field.

Shaq Thompson and Tommy Tremble also returned today. pic.twitter.com/zHrXELxetQ

— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) August 12, 2024

Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson also returned to practice after dealing with a hamstring injury for a few weeks. The former first-rounder suffered a broken leg last September and is preparing for a major comeback. He had 135 tackles in his last full season for Carolina, including 13 tackles for loss.

Tommy Tremble missed Thursday’s preseason game due to a hamstring injury as well. He had 23 catches and three touchdowns last season for the Panthers.

Now returned to action on the field, Legette, Thompson and Tremble all have the chance to appear in the Panthers’ next preseason game. They take on the New York Jets at home on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

Panthers waive the ‘Thiccer Kicker’

On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers waived kicker Harrison Mevis, leaving Eddy Pineiro as the only kicker on the franchise’s roster. Pineiro has apparently won the starting job for the squad after the team’s first preseason game.

After spending four seasons at Missouri, Mevis signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. Affectionately known as the “Thiccer Kicker,” he boasts unusual size for his position. At 6-foot, 240 pounds, he has immense power in his right leg. Mevis is the all-time scoring leader at Missouri and all-time leader in field goals made.

Additionally, Mevis has the most 50-plus yard completed field goals in Missouri’s history. In Missouri’s nail-biting victory over Kansas State on Sept. 15, he kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal, which broke the SEC record for the longest field goal in the conference’s history.

Harrison Mevis reeled in numerous honors during his collegiate career, including First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC selections in 2021, along with a Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2023.

The team waived the kicker on Sunday and quickly filled his spot with an offensive lineman. They signed former Western Carolina tackle Tyler Smith.

On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.