CHARLOTTE – Mr. Canales goes to Washington this weekend as the Panthers (1-5) prepare to take on the Commanders (4-2) and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.

Friday brought some unexpected and positive injury news, slightly changing the complexion of Sunday's Week 7 game, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

With that in mind, here are five things to watch as the Panthers face the Commanders.

Changes in the secondary

The Panthers are welcoming back corner Dane Jackson this week. Jackson arrived in Charlotte as a free agent this spring, but a hamstring injury placed him on injured reserve before the season began. After two weeks of practice, coaches are ready to see what the fifth-year defensive back can do in process blue.

In his 52 career games with the Buffalo Bills, Jackson has 152 tackles, two forced fumbles, 28 passes defended, and three interceptions.

His return gives Ejiro Evero two possible starters on the outside opposite Jaycee Horn.

"I think with Dane coming back, it's just going to add an element of even more physicality," secondary coach Jonathan Cooley said last week. "His energy is upbeat, and I think so; I just think it's going to make us better. And we're excited about whenever it is his time to play again."

Jackson was signed this spring as a projected starter. When he was injured, the club traded for Mike Jackson from the Seahawks. The team has seen seven of their potential 11 starters taken off the field with injury at some point before or during the season, so Jackson's return is a positive step in the other direction.

Legette on 100

Xavier Legette may be a rookie, but he is confident beyond his years. Maybe it's because he's older, having spent five years at South Carolina. Maybe it's because of his performance the last couple of weeks, helping him realize what he can do. Or maybe he's just always been this way. Whatever the reason, Legette is finding his voice on and off the field, which could continue on Sunday.

Legette has especially made a name for himself on contested 50/50 balls, which he said "are going to be 100 for me."

"I always want my opportunities to get the ball. But just when those opportunities come, I got to make the play… I feel like those plays are for me; that's why I really like those."

According to Next Gen Stats, Andy Dalton has faced man coverage at the 6th-highest rate this season (35.7%) and has been effective against such coverage — his 72.5% completion percentage against man is the highest in the NFL.

The Commanders have played man coverage at the 10th-highest rate this season (33.5%) while allowing the highest completion percentage (68.4%) and the 6th-most yards per attempt (7.7) in such coverage.

Of Legette's 16 catches so far this season, 16 percent have been in a tight window, typically meaning a defender is plastered on the receiver. It could be another highlight day if the rookie can take advantage of the chances in the Commanders' defense.

"It's a throwback to the Randy Moss era, you got Mossed," Legette laughed. "That's all I want to do."

Diontae Johnson, who had already been on the injury report this week with an ankle, also piqued a rib injury on Friday. While the Panthers are hopeful he will play on Sunday, his possible absence or limited role could mean more work for Legette.

Head of the class

This Sunday will mark the second rookie quarterback the Panthers have faced in the first seven weeks and the first of three straight rookie passers. Three of those four quarterbacks were drafted No. 1 (Caleb Williams), No. 2 (Jayden Daniels), and No. 12 (Bo Nix) overall.

Daniels has the Commanders at 4-2, atop the NFC East and rolling. He does a lot with his legs, rushing 63 times for 322 yards and four touchdowns already, second most for any quarterback this season behind Lamar Jackson. It means the Panthers defense will have to be on a swivel for every play

"You just have to extend plays," corner Jaycee Horn explained. "Anytime you playing a mobile quarterback like that, it's tough cause you got to guard everything twice."

But it's not just Daniels' rushing ability that the defense is on the lookout for. As Horn explained, he's also a pinpoint passer.

"He's very accurate. He's just not a running quarterback; he's very accurate in the pocket and even outside the pocket," Horn said. "I think the deep ball is the best play that he has."

Daniels has gone 5-16 for 217 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception on 20-plus air-yard passes. The duel threat requires an incredibly disciplined defensive attack because, as Horn said, "whenever you got those combinations, it's a tough, tough thing to stop."

Let's talk Chuba…again

Stop us if you've heard this already, but Chuba Hubbard could have another big day on Sunday. The running back has already posted three games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage and was five yards shy of doing it a fourth-time.

According to Next Gen Stats, Chuba Hubbard has gained more yards than expected on 55.4% of his carries this season, the highest among running backs (min. 50 carries).

Hubbard has generated +129 rushing yards over expected in 2024, 5th-most in the league. He has been effective rushing outside the tackles, recording the most yards per carry on such rushes among running backs (7.9, min. 25 carries) and the 4th-most RYOE (+110).

The Commanders have allowed the 2nd-most yards per carry to outside rushes this season (5.9).

Furthermore, the Commanders front-seven—typically a team stalwart—has become increasingly banged up in the past seven days. On Sunday, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was lost for the season, and starting defensive end Dorance Armstrong was ruled out for this week. Armstrong leaves the Commanders without their leading pressure man, 20 total pressures, including 11 hurries and five quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Allen loss, a former Pro-Bowler, does intrinsically change the Commanders front, but Hubbard isn't discounting who will step in on the line.

"I mean, just like us, you got that next man up mentality," Hubbard said Thursday. "Obviously, they got a lot of great depth there. So, obviously, a tough loss for them, but I'm sure whoever they have coming back up will be all right."

Added center Brady Christensen, "It's a great front, and those linebackers play hard, too. They play really hard, and that's one thing that jumps off the tape for me, and then just how sound their defense is, it's a very sound defense."

Put it in the chat

Jaycee Horn's group chat has been popping off this week. It's a chat he is in with former Panthers, Jeremy Chinn, Brian Burns and Donte Jackson. And as the Panthers prepare to face Chinn and fellow former teammate Frankie Luvu this week, the chat has gotten busy.

"I probably talked to Frankie about two weeks ago. But Chinn, I talk to all the time. Me, him, D-Jack (Donte Jackson), and (Brian) Burns are in a group chat. We're talking junk in there. But I told him I need a jersey," Horn shared this week.

Hubbard will be trying to slip by both Chinn and Luvu but is also looking forward to all the in-between time with old friends.

"Those are my guys," Hubbard said. "Obviously, I was with them for three of my first four years here and had a good relationship with both of them. Both are dogs and work really hard, so I know we'll get the best of them over there."

Getting the best of them will mean preparing Luvu to affect the game from multiple positions. Luckily for the Panthers, they've had experience seeing what he can do.

"I'm excited, Frankie, he's an animal," Christensen said. "He's a great player. He's one of those guys you got to prepare for. So, we're preparing for him.

"Yeah, for sure (he's effective against the blitz). And they'll even put him on the edge of the lines with a pass rush at times. He's very effective in that he just plays hard. I mean, we watched him for so many years here. He plays hard and physical and just flies around and so we got to match that."