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Chris Brazzell II
WR · CAR

Chris Brazzell II

Position WR
Team CAR
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Chris Brazzell II

NFL player. Position: WR. Team: Carolina Panthers.

Quick Facts

  • Position: WR
  • Team: CAR (Carolina Panthers)
  • College: Tennessee
  • 2026 Draft: 3rd round (2026)

2026 Outlook

Chris Brazzell II was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of 2026 to address the need for explosive deep-threat receiving talent. In his final college season at Tennessee, Brazzell recorded 1,017 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, showcasing elite athleticism. The Panthers brought him in to compete for the WR3 spot and provide contested catch downfield ability—a gap in the receiving room. Brazzell immediately faces a minicamp battle against Xavier Legette for the third receiver role, with the expectation that his explosive potential and scheme fit could secure playing time (per Biggest Position Battles That Will Define Panthers Minicamp).

June 5 OTAs update: Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik was effusive about Brazzell's potential at the team's organized team activities. Idzik specifically praised the combination of speed and size: "you have a guy who's not only fast, but a longer athlete like Chris that really stretches the safeties." The OC compared Brazzell to elite deep threats from his prior coaching stops—when Idzik was with Seattle (DK Metcalf) and Tampa Bay (Mike Evans), both were weapons that forced safeties to respect the deep ball. Brazzell enters the pros as a first-team All-SEC selection with a conference-leading nine TDs and 16.4 yards per reception. His ability to immediately provide vertical stretch is the key differentiator that separates him from Xavier Legette in the role battle (per 4 biggest takeaways from Panthers' 2026 OTAs).

July 29 training camp injury: Suffered a non-contact LCL tear in his left knee on Day 3 of Panthers training camp. Expected recovery timeline is 6-8 weeks, which would likely sideline him for the entire preseason. This derails any hope of competing for early-season snaps with the receiver room (per The Four Key Injuries That Overshadowed the First Full Day of NFL Training Camps).

Role / Depth Chart

Third-round 2026 draft pick competing for WR3 position. Explosive deep threat in personnel packages alongside McMillan and Coker.

Injury Status

Suffered LCL tear in left knee during Panthers training camp on July 29, 2026. Initial non-surgical plan would have sidelined him for up to 8 weeks, setting him up for potential October return. However, after a second opinion on July 30, the Panthers decided to proceed with season-ending surgery instead. Surgery will keep him out for the entire 2026 season, ending any rookie-year playing time opportunity (per Carolina Panthers Rookie Draft Pick Suffers Season-Ending Injury in First Week of Training Camp).

Recent News

Open Questions

Sources

Coaches shaping Chris's role

Dave CanalesHead CoachBrad IdzikOffensive CoordinatorJonathan CooleyDefensive Passing Game CoordinatorMike BercoviciOffensive Passing Game CoordinatorJoe GilbertOffensive Line CoachRob MooreWide Receivers Coach