The Carolina Panthers got off to a sluggish start during their joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Dave Canales' squad picked things up later on, but not everyone came away from the session satisfied.
Based on reports from those watching from the sidelines, wide receiver Jalen Coker's frustrations were more visible than most.
According to Vashti Hurt of Carolina Blitz, who was in attendance, it was another anonymous practice for Coker. The former Holy Cross standout was getting open, but quarterback Bryce Young was looking elsewhere.
Jalen Coker's joint practice frustration is exactly what the Carolina Panthers need to see
And the wideout let everyone know about it.
"Quiet practice for (Jalen) Coker. Not sure I’ve seen him make a catch. He was open on one play, but (Bryce) Young dumps it off to (Jonathon) Brooks for minimal gain. Coker yells out at the end of the play bc (because) he was so wide open for the TD."
Quite frankly, if Coker wasn't frustrated about not getting the football, it would be much more concerning.
He wants to make things happen. The Panthers placed a significant amount of faith in the pass-catcher by giving him a contract extension this offseason, and even though he might be playing second fiddle to Tetairoa McMillan, he is a very serviceable WR2.
Young wants to get all of his playmakers involved. There might have been pressure coming, and he needed to get the football out quickly. He might not have seen Coker creating separation. These things happen, but the wideout's frustration is a testament to how much he is growing into his role.
Coker knows that McMillan is the top dog. That's not up for discussion, but that doesn't mean he'll be taking a back seat.
He's come too far for that.
This is also a nice problem for the Panthers to have.
The more weapons Young has at his disposal, the better his chance of taking the next step will be en route to potentially securing a lucrative new deal. McMillan and Coker are a legitimate 1-2 punch, so even if the targets are distributed evenly, the signal-caller has high confidence that both pass-catchers can come through with the goods when required.
Being frustrated about not getting the football is par for the course with wide receivers who believe they are capable of greatness. They all have a little diva in them, and those who've achieved greatness at the highest pinnacle have had the charisma and flamboyance to match.
Coker may have been more understated than the Randy Mosses, Terrell Owenses, and Stefon Diggses of the world, but don't let that fool you. He wants the ball all the time, especially when he's open. And if he doesn't get it, the 2024 undrafted free agent is now confident enough to voice his displeasure before moving on swiftly to the next play.
And for the Panthers, that's only going to be a good thing moving forward.
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