The Carolina Panthers enter mandatory minicamp with several key players at different stages of recovery. Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been limited by minor foot soreness, while linebacker Trevin Wallace continues rehabbing from shoulder surgery that ended his 2025 season. Running back Jonathon Brooks remains one of Carolina's biggest injury storylines as he works his way back from a second ACL tear with hopes of increasing his workload ahead of training camp.
Tetairoa McMillan - Foot
McMillan was limited during Panthers OTAs because of minor foot soreness. The team is taking a precautionary approach, keeping the rookie receiver out of full practices and working with trainers to prevent the issue from becoming a lingering problem. The expectation is that McMillan will return within the next week or two and could be a full participant by mandatory minicamp.
Bobby Brown III - Calf
Brown was limited during Panthers OTAs as he works through a lingering calf injury. HE returned to practice in phase 3. The team kept him with the rehab group early in the offseason program to manage the issue and avoid any setbacks. Brown is reportedly progressing well and is expected to ramp up his workload over the coming weeks, with a strong chance of participating in some capacity—or fully—by mandatory minicamp.
Ikem Ekwonu - Right Patellar
Ekwonu suffered a devastating injury in the Wildcard matchup with the Rams, rupturing his right patellar tendon. With the severity of this injury and with how late it came into the season, Ekwonu will miss the entirety of the 2026-2027 season, and with the Panthers using their first-round pick to draft a new left tackle, the future is uncertain for Ekwonu.
Trevin Wallace - Shoulder
Wallace remains limited during Panthers OTAs as he continues recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his 2025 season and required surgery. The young linebacker has not yet been cleared for contact and has been restricted to non-contact work as part of his rehabilitation. Wallace is expected to attend mandatory minicamp but will likely remain limited initially, with a return to full participation targeted closer to training camp.
Jonathon Brooks - ACL
Brooks continues to make progress in his recovery from the second ACL tear of his right knee, an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. The Panthers have him on a controlled workload during OTAs, allowing him to participate in individual drills and 7-on-7 work while limiting some team reps for load management. Carolina remains extremely cautious with the young running back, but reports indicate he has looked explosive in early workouts and is on track to increase his participation during mandatory minicamp, with the goal of being near full strength by training camp.
Tershawn Wharton - Neck
Wharton missed 8 games due to lingering toe and hamstring issues; however, the bigger issue came at the beginning of OTAs, where he reported with neck discomfort that required surgery. His return has no timetable, and with the injury involving the neck and PUP already confirmed, the concern no longer becomes about the season, but his career.
