Tetairoa McMillan Has a Foot Injury. The Reigning OROY Is Sidelined for Panthers OTAs.
The Carolina Panthers were planning to build their entire offense around Tetairoa McMillan. Now they have to wait a little longer.
The 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is dealing with a foot injury and has been sidelined for the early portion of Carolina OTAs, according to multiple reports. The injury is not considered serious, but it is the kind of thing the Panthers do not need their franchise wide receiver dealing with five weeks before training camp opens.
McMillan had a monster rookie season. The former Arizona Wildcat caught 92 passes for 1,344 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games, immediately establishing himself as the No. 1 receiving option for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Their connection in the second half of the season was one of the few legitimate bright spots in another rough year for the Panthers.
Now Young is throwing OTA reps to a receiver corps that is missing its top weapon. The team has been giving extra touches to 2026 third-round pick Chris Brazzell II out of Tennessee, who has reportedly impressed coaches with his speed and route-running. Xavier Legette, the 2024 first-round pick who has struggled in two seasons, is also getting more looks.
Brazzell could be one of the breakout stories of Panthers camp if McMillan misses extended time. He was a four-year contributor at Tennessee with the kind of vertical threat profile that fits the modern NFL. The Panthers liked him enough to take him on Day 2 of the draft.
Legette is the more interesting case. The South Carolina product was the 32nd overall pick in 2024 and has not lived up to that draft slot. He caught 49 passes for 497 yards as a rookie, then regressed to 38 catches for 412 yards in his sophomore season. The talent has always been there but the production has not, and his window to prove he belongs as a starting NFL wide receiver is closing fast.
McMillan’s absence gives Legette an opportunity to show he is more than just a roster filler. If he can string together a few standout OTA practices, he could earn a real role in the offense once McMillan returns. The Panthers need their 2024 first-round pick to be more than a four-catch-per-game possession receiver.
The Panthers offense overall has more juice than it has had in years. Young looks comfortable in his third NFL season after a strong second half in 2025. The offensive line, anchored by guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, has been a top-15 unit. Running back Chuba Hubbard remains one of the more underrated backs in the NFC. New offensive coordinator Brad Idzik (promoted from passing game coordinator in February) is reportedly putting in a more dynamic scheme to maximize Young’s athleticism.
The defense is still a work in progress. Carolina spent significant draft capital on the defensive line this offseason, including using their first-round pick on a defensive tackle. The secondary has questions at corner. Linebacker depth is okay but not great. The team’s success in 2026 will largely depend on whether the offense can score enough to mask the defensive limitations.
McMillan being healthy by training camp is the absolute baseline expectation. Foot injuries in May and June rarely linger into August, especially when the team is being cautious during voluntary work. The Panthers have every incentive to bring him along slowly and make sure he is at 100 percent when the games actually count.
The OROY trophy on his shelf already changed McMillan’s career trajectory. The contract he eventually negotiates as a top-tier NFL receiver will set up his family for life. The next step is proving he can be that player consistently for the next decade.
That second step starts with getting healthy. The Panthers will be patient. The reps for Brazzell and Legette in the meantime will only help the depth chart. And when McMillan returns to the practice field, Carolina will have a clearer picture of what its receiver room actually looks like in 2026.
For now, the rookie sensation is on the sideline. The Panthers are doing the smart thing by waiting.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
