CHARLOTTE — Panthers head coach Dave Canales believes in rookie outside linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen already.

But he's going to need to rely on them more than ever this week.

With veteran starters Patrick Jones II and D.J. Wonnum already ruled out of the Week 4 matchup, Scourton and Umanmielen are in line to have their biggest roles Sunday against the Patriots, four weeks into their NFL careers.

Scourton did start last week with Jones inactive, but now the second- and third-round picks will be on the field together, and a lot.

Both saw their workloads increase significantly in last week's win against the Falcons. Scourton played a combined 40 snaps in the first two games and 56 last week against Atlanta. Umanmielen had 21 snaps in the first two games combined and 34 last week.

They'll need to prepare themselves for that, and head coach Dave Canales said he hoped it wasn't that much of an adjustment.

"I hope there isn't," Canales said Friday. "I know there's an emotional piece involved. I'll acknowledge that for sure. You know that when a guy's out there getting those reps, it does lead to more confident play, but I try to ask of our guys, you've got to be ready. You never know when you're going to be called to contribute, and you know we have multiple examples now on both sides of the ball, really, for guys to step in and be ready to do that, so they have to take their minds there.

"They've got to take their body there, and if they're not getting the reps, that's where the extra work comes in after practice, before practice, and preparing yourself like I'm going to play every game."

The Panthers also have DJ Johnson and Thomas Incoom at the position, and they'll have to play.

Xavier Legette ruled out for Sunday

Wide receiver Xavier Legette is officially listed as out for this Sunday against the Patriots. It will be the second game in a row Legette will have missed as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in practice last week.

Canales told reporters on Friday the decision was made with "just day-to-day information, just kind of checking him in the morning, seeing where he's at, seeing if there's a chance to get him out there to do some stuff."

Legette did not practice any day this week, though, since ultimately, "we didn't feel confident to be able to do that right now."

He was able to participate in rehab sessions, and Canales said the decision to rule him out was simply health-related.

"We're really just focusing on the physical part, and we get him back physical, and we feel confident that he can get out there and be himself, that's the focus," Canales said. "I think that, across the league, at different positions, there are things that players have to work through. That's no different for X, you know, and right now it's just a physical thing."

Tershawn Wharton's return still tentative, but anticipated

The defensive line could receive a boost this weekend. Tershawn Wharton is officially listed as questionable, after being able to practice, albeit in a limited capacity, Thursday and Friday of this week. The defensive tackle hurt his hamstring in the Panthers' season opener against Jacksonville. The Panthers elected not to place him on injured reserve, in hopes he would be able to return sooner than the required four games a player must miss when on IR.

In Wharton's absence, the defensive line has still played well, holding teams to 177 rushing yards over the last six quarters. It's created a foundation the Panthers hope can carry them through the season, and potentially adding Wharton back into that group will only elevate the entire unit.

"This is a group that's been playing together now, kind of stacking these lessons, and (Turk's) been watching and itching to get back out there to play with these guys," said Canales. "So I'm excited to see him get back out there.

"Just great energy, it's every day at practice," Canales continued, of what Wharton has provided in his time on the sidelines. "It's in the game just a high motor, high focus, gets his mind right, ready to play, ready to go for it, you know, he understands what this game asks of the big men inside, and, trench warfare from our standpoint, at least from a football standpoint, and he just stands for all those things. He's a major factor for us when he's out there because of the style of how he plays and chases the ball."

Despite playing only 20 snaps in that Week 1 game, the former Kansas City Chief came away with four tackles and a big impression on his coaches. Asked what Wharton showed in those limited reps, Canales provided a litany of positive signs from his free agent signing.

"Ability to get off the blocks, make plays, execute his assignment, and just a lot of juice, a lot of energy he brings to the group out there on the field, to the sideline," complimented Canales. "He really engages the group, and that showed up, you know, I think it was, in that sample size he had four tackles, and most of them were coming off of blocks to make an extra effort play, and that's what we saw in him.

"That's why he's here and that's what we hope to see again."

Long injury report creates a new challenge

While Canales is always upbeat, the length and star power on that injury report also jump off the page. With four starters out and three more questionable, the Panthers find themselves in a position they haven't been in yet.

"Execution," Canales replied quickly when asked about his mindset heading into the trip. "You know, whoever's out there, we're asking them to, first of all, send them our confidence that we trust you, we have you out here for a reason. You're on this team for a reason and just trying to give that energy to them, whoever goes out there, we expect you to execute with the rest of the group."