North Charlotte Today

David Moore, a veteran wide receiver for the Panthers, recently praised his teammate Jalen Coker. Moore said of Coker, "He's great," emphasizing his belief in the rookie's potential. Despite not being prompted to discuss Coker, Moore was eager to share his thoughts on the young player.

Coker has emerged as a standout performer for the Panthers, leading the team in receiving yards during their recent game against the Broncos. He caught four passes out of six targets for 78 yards and scored a touchdown. Although he primarily played with quarterback Andy Dalton, who is currently sidelined due to injury, Coker demonstrated his abilities with Bryce Young at quarterback.

Young spoke highly of Coker's work ethic and consistency: "How consistent he is, how hard of a worker he is." Through five games this season, Coker has recorded 12 receptions on 15 targets for 186 yards and one touchdown. The team's quarterbacks have achieved a passer rating of 112.8 when targeting him.

Coker himself expressed his understanding of the league's demands: "This is such a, what have you done for me lately type of league." As an undrafted rookie from Holy Cross, Coker wasn't initially expected to play a significant role in the offense but has worked hard to make an impact.

His journey began after being signed by the Panthers post-draft. He was released during initial roster cuts but later joined the practice squad. With injuries affecting key players like Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson, Coker's role expanded significantly.

Reflecting on his unexpected early contributions, Coker said: "No, I didn't," regarding whether he foresaw such involvement this soon. He credits his teammates for preparing him and remains focused on improving every day.

During the game against Denver, Coker made notable plays that highlighted his potential value to the team’s future plans alongside first-round pick Xavier Legette.

Despite losing 28-14 to Denver, Coker left with positive takeaways from scoring his first career touchdown: "I'm just going to keep (the ball) in my house... And just make room for some more."