Jalen Coker is ‘playing with house money’ again, and Bryce Young can tell
Get Jalen Coker talking about the Jurassic movie franchise, or how the Marvel Cinematic Universe compares to DC’s recent resurgence, or about the summer he spent in Charlotte, or about his rehab — and he’ll toe every line.
I don’t want to spoil anything, he says of the movies he’s seen.
There were growing pains, sure, but it was still great, he says of his first NFL offseason.
And so on.
But get the Carolina Panthers’ second-year wide receiver talking about how he views his rookie season from where he sits now — with a clear path to the active roster deep into training camp season — and Coker wouldn’t need to qualify any of his thoughts.
“Honestly, no specific moment comes to mind (from my rookie year),” Coker told The Charlotte Observer after a recent practice. “Just taking advantage of opportunities. An undrafted guy coming from Holy Cross, they say no one’s supposed to make it from there. So to be able to put on for my team, put on for my family, work hard.
“Like my mom says, ‘I’m playing with house money.’ It’s just a blessing. I’m really fortunate I was able to get out there on the field.”
It’s fair to say things have changed since his rookie season. He has NFL credentials now, after all.
It’s true that Coker arrived to Carolina as one of the more heralded undrafted rookie free agents. He was a record-holder at FCS power Holy Cross whose NFL Scouting Combine numbers were remarkable and whose popularity among Panthers fans was undeniable. Quickly undeniable. But his season started like many undrafted free-agent seasons do: Coker made the 53-man roster initially. Then he was waived and returned to the Panthers’ practice squad. He then bided his time and ultimately got his shot on the active roster after Adam Thielen suffered a significant hamstring injury in Week 3. Coker dressed out on Sundays thereafter — and was a reliable receiver during Young’s end-of-season ascension.
How reliable, you ask? Check his NFL-emblazoned receipt: 32 receptions on 46 targets for 478 yards and two touchdowns. Those 478 yards, too, are the most by an undrafted rookie in Panthers franchise history.
Still, no matter how much has changed from last training camp to this one, Coker insists he’s still playing with house money — that he’s still playing with the kind of joy knowing he’s won something by merely showing up and working hard.
It worked last year, after all.
And according to others — including third-year quarterback Bryce Young — it’s working again.
“The competitive spirit he’s come out with, you saw it today: Being physical, making contested catches, really taking the challenge — you see that,” Young said. “Another year in the system for him, him being confident and knowing what he can do. He put it all on tape all last year.”
He added: “You feel his presence when he’s out there. It’s something that you see on the tape, but when you’re out on the field, we all feel it. I love his mindset. He’s a great dude. The way he works, it’s really showing out there in practice.”
Jalen Coker trying to shine in a crowded room
If you feel like Coker’s approach to this offseason is a bit naive — that’s fair. But also? It’s probably healthy.
Just like Coker had steep odds to conquer last year, his path to the Panthers’ roster and then to being an integral part of the offense isn’t without competition.
Just take a look at the Panthers’ wide receiver group as it stands right now. There’s this year’s No. 8 overall pick in Tetairoa McMillan. There’s last year’s first-round pick in Xavier Legette. There’s veteran Adam Thielen, whose resurgence the last two seasons yielded him a raise this year. There’s also sixth-round pick and newly established fan favorite Jimmy Horn Jr., Coker himself, and Dave Canales disciple David Moore. And you can’t forget about Hunter Renfrow — the 29-year-old receiver whose return to his Pro Bowl 2021 form has been the turn of camp.
That’s seven wide receivers — and doesn’t even include any of the other undrafted rookies who’ve flashed in camp, like Kobe Hudson, or Jacolby George. Renfrow called it the deepest wide receiver room he’s ever been a part of. Canales, the Panthers’ current head coach but former receivers coach, said it’s deep too — and shaped like a basketball team with guys of different skill sets, different sizes, different ways to bring his offensive vision to life.
Coker’s approach to all this?
Don’t stress about it. Work hard. Shine in the opportunities you’re given.
House money.
“I’m looking at it from a team aspect,” Coker said. “We got more guys to throw to. And it’s going to take more from the other guys who are here and the other guys who just got drafted and the undrafted guys, it’s just going to make us all work harder. And it’s just going to push us to continue to be better.
“Pressure makes diamonds; I’m a firm believer in that. And I think that having those guys come in is just going to make everyone on the team better.”
Coker spent the offseason in Charlotte. And outside of a quad injury he said he was forced to work through earlier this summer, he’s been available. That was a goal of his.
“I was here most of the time working with the athletic staff here, just trying to make sure the soft tissue injuries don’t come back,” Coker said. “I’m 100% to get out here and play, which I’ve been doing. … With all those lower-body injuries, everybody here knows my body, they know what I need. I’m gonna stay here where everyone knows me, so I can get the best treatment, the most efficient treatment, hit the ground running.”
Bryce Young has ‘been like that’
If there’s one other topic that Coker isn’t moderate on, it’s his quarterback. Young and Coker were locker neighbors in 2024, and though they mostly occupied two different worlds — one bearing the demands of an overall No. 1 pick and the spotlight that comes with a QB benching and a corresponding resurgence; the other working for a roster spot — they bore witness to each other’s stories.
And Coker never saw Young change.
“People were like, ‘Oh, he played so good at the end of the season, blah blah blah,’” Coker said. “Nah. He’s been like that. He’s been like that. He’s going to come out, and he’s going to attack it the same way every single day, every single snap. He’s over there bringing up the guys. He’s jawing back and forth with Jaycee (Horn).
“It’s what you want. He’s a leader out there, and we’re riding for him regardless what happens. He’s going to be our guy, always.”
Coker smiled.
“I think people just need to sit back and watch him work,” he continued of his quarterback. “That’s a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion — that dude, he’s the real deal. Everyone will see.”
Forgive Coker for his assuredness. It comes from a natural place.
A place of knowing that there’s a lot to do — but that in the end, he’s already won.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Jalen Coker is ‘playing with house money’ again, and Bryce Young can tell."
