CHARLOTTE — The Panthers are in wait-and-see mode with Xavier Legette. The receiver was limited in practice this week with a hamstring and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s home opener against divisional rivals, the Atlanta Falcons.

"Yeah, I think questionable, right, you know we're going to have to still take it day to day," Canales said Friday afternoon.

"He did take some reps. He's bugging me to play, you know, he's like, 'Coach, I'm good, coach, I'm good,' and so we just have to be really sure that we test this thing and move him around so we feel confident that he can be out there and be himself."

The hamstring soreness popped up on Wednesday, according to Canales. While the receiver was back on the field Thursday and Friday, albeit in a limited capacity, the team will monitor his status between now and Sunday.

"That's something that we're going to have to look at again tomorrow morning," Canales continued, "and just move around and talk to him some tomorrow to see where we're at there. He's a guy that, he knows that the work is right there for him and he wants to be out there, but, I got to make the best decision for him. I got to make the best decision for us.

"It's really for me, it's really about football. It's about his ability to play to his full speed, to be able to react to things and not to have other things on his mind, as far as just like dealing with the hamstring and how that might affect him, and just the whole group. So for me it's always going to be a football decision and I want to make the best decision for X but also for us."

Injury creates opportunity for two rookies

Outside linebacker Patrick Jones II will officially be out on Sunday, as the Panthers monitor a hamstring injury he suffered during the Week 2 game against the Cardinals.

"It'll be week to week, right now," Canales said Friday.

In his absence, the defense will lean on a stable of pass-rushers, from rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen to veterans like DJ Johnson and Thomas Incoom, who will join veteran starter D.J. Wonnum. The rookies, in particular, will likely see a big increase in playing time. Thus far, Scourton has played 40 defensive snaps, approximately 33.1 percent, while Umanmielen has played 21, or 17.4 percent. Umanmielen recorded his first career sack last week against Kyler Murray.

"Opportunities right for guys to step up, you know, something we talked about, the young guys being out there getting experience, and really becoming pros.

"Nic Scourton will get more of the reps on first and second down. Princeley still has a nice role for us in our known pass types of situations with the rush and all that, but we're asking Nic to be a stud and step up, you know, and he went about it the right way this week, and he worked his butt off, he was flying around. He's excited about the opportunity."

Scourton began practicing on Wednesday as if his role would increase this week.

"I think just, you know, more preparation," Scourton said, as to what this week of practice looks like for him. "You know, bigger role this week, I got to go execute, so trying to do as much as possible to be able to be ready on Sunday."

Incoom bringing an energy to multiple sides of the ball

With Jones out, as Canales said, there is an opportunity for Incoom to see more action on defense. The third-year linebacker hasn't appeared on defense yet this season, but played 6.6 percent of the snaps there last season.

His biggest impact has been on special teams, where he's played 90.9 percent of the snaps thus far, making two tackles. On Friday, Canales called Incoom "our best special teams player," and last week against the Cardinals, Incoom served as the fourth rotating captain for the week.

A big reason for that? His energy.

"Just his energy, you know, he plays with the high motor," Canales bragged. "And he gives us some stuff in a pass rush role, and he plays physical against the run...He shows that kind of spirit that we're looking for from our play style, so he embodies that. I love when he's out there. He's 100 miles an hour every time he's on the grass, so I love the spirit of who Thomas is."