Xavier Legette reveals he canceled 'every plan' he had after heartbreaking drop vs. Eagles

Carolina Panthers (3-10) rookie wideout Xavier Legette has struggled with drops in his first NFL season, but none were more costly than the ball that slipped through his hands late in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) this past Sunday.

The Panthers had the ball inside Philadelphia’s 40-yard line with 52 seconds remaining as the Eagles sought to protect a 22-16 lead. Legette found a way to get behind Philadelphia’s secondary on 2nd down, and all he needed was a look from quarterback Bryce Young. Young delivered a near perfect ball to a lunging Legette, who initially looked to have hauled it in for the game-tying score. Officials, however, ruled it incomplete which a replay from FOX Sports confirmed. Carolina failed to get the ball into the end zone and the Eagles escaped with their ninth consecutive victory.

Legette said this week on “The St. Brown Podcast” that the drop affected him off the field. Upon getting back into the locker room, Legette canceled his upcoming plans.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette on the St. Brown Podcast talking about dropping his potential game-winning pass against the Eagles is the funniest thing you’ll watch all day 🤣#OnePride pic.twitter.com/N0xcYQOpVe

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) December 11, 2024

“I canceled every plan I had after that,” Legette said. “Was supposed to go to the Rod Wave concert — as soon as I got into the locker room, I texted boy like, ‘Hey, cancel the suite. I don’t wanna go no more.'”

Dave Canales speaks on Xavier Legette’s untimely drop in Week 14

The drop was both untimely and unfortunate for a player who has shown flashes this season. Legette, the first-round pick out of South Carolina, leads the Panthers with 39 receptions for 432 yards and four touchdowns.

That is the positive. The negative, his issue with drops, is what’s keeping him from being in the discussion of some of his rookie wideout counterparts. That was a play Legette needed to make and simply didn’t, head coach Dave Canales said.

“Absolutely [he’s got to catch that],” Canales said, via Zach Roberts of Sports Illustrated. “That’s the big play we’re counting on. He’d be the first one to tell you he’s gotta make that play. Bryce steps up, makes a beautiful throw… Those are the plays we have to find a way to make.”