North Charlotte Today

Xavier Legette, a rookie wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, is determined to address his wrist injury in the offseason without using it as an excuse for recent performance issues. Despite needing surgery after the season due to a lingering left wrist problem, Legette insists it did not affect his play during last week's game against the Eagles.

Legette remains focused on self-improvement and has dismissed any comforting messages from family members. "Never no grace," he stated when asked about forgiving himself for past mistakes. His approach involves intense self-discipline, which began immediately after Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles, where a potential game-winning pass slipped through his grasp.

Following the game, Legette reviewed footage of the missed catch and canceled plans to attend a concert that evening. "That was over with. I canceled that," he said, emphasizing his commitment to perfecting his craft.

Throughout this week, Legette has been dedicated to identifying and correcting errors by repeatedly watching recordings of the play on his phone. He acknowledges social media's impact but focuses on improving rather than engaging with online criticism.

"It's still going to be notification buzzing my phone," he remarked about public reactions. However, he's committed to learning from mistakes and honing his skills alongside teammates like Bryce Young and Chuba Hubbard.

Young expressed support for Legette: "X is someone who...wants to be perfect...He loves the game." This encouragement fuels Legette's desire to honor team trust by becoming a better player.

The Panthers have four remaining regular-season games before Legette undergoes surgery for ligament damage sustained in college but aggravated recently against the Saints. He maintains that this injury hasn't impacted his gameplay significantly enough to warrant protection or excuses.

Legette is resolute in moving forward: "(The wrist) ain't no excuse...Just got to play better."