CHARLOTTE — When Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette got more attention than he wanted for dropping a late pass in Philadelphia, he talked about canceling all his plans since he didn't want to be around people.

But even though he skipped the Rod Wave show that week, he still found some new friends.

In those days after the rookie receiver's dramatic drop, he picked up a new habit, joining Chuba Hubbard and Tommy Tremble at the Jugs machine after practice to catch extra passes.

"X is a professional, man," Tremble said of their young guest. "He's trying to get better, and so seeing him out there trying to get better, at least 1 percent every day, man, we love that stuff. We see that. That's what me and Chuba always prided on trying to do every single day: do something to get better, and that's going out there.

"A lot of people, being a first-rounder, being a guy who's that dude, a great receiver, and some people think they're too big for that. But showing that he cares for us, cares for this team, cares to have success in the league. I mean, that shows a lot of his character, that shows a lot of what he wants in the league, and so we respect the heck out of it, man, and we'll do anything we can to help him."

The personality in Legette has been obvious from the day he arrived here from Mullins, S.C., all grins and stories about his horse Dolla Bill (and his new horse Roxie) or a container of raccoon meat in his locker. Laughs come easily from and around Legette.

But when it comes to the topic of getting better or the arc of his rookie season, he turns serious, and that easy smile is replaced by a scowl.

He's not willing to accept that a lot of rookie receivers struggle. He's admitted several times over the course of the season he's more driven by negative reinforcement, so having gone through a high-profile play like the Eagles game sets his mind to make sure it doesn't become a pattern. (Never mind the fact they were only in a position for that play in Philadelphia to matter because he had a significant conversion on that drive.)

"I don't want to fall back to that," Legette replied when asked about other rookies having similar problems. "I mean, I feel like I should have did more than what I did, what I put out there already. . . .

"(I learn more from) the negatives. I don't want to be back in that position. I know what it feels like to be in that position. I don't want to feel like that no more."

If it sounds like Legette is being hard on himself, he is. The Panthers traded up to make sure they got him in the first round (with the extra year of contract that comes with that status) because they envisioned him as a playmaker for years to come. And he's hinted at that possibility this season. He had four touchdowns in the first nine weeks of the season.

But he hasn't ridden Dolla Bill since then, and that bothers him.

Perhaps that's why before practice this week, as he's coming back from a groin issue, he was out on the practice field beforehand with receivers coach Rob Moore, working through details of route-running alongside fellow rookie Jalen Coker, the kind of extra work he wants to put in, and has shown a willingness to put in.

"It just tells you that he's willing to do the little things it takes to be as great as he can be," the veteran assistant and longtime NFL receiver said. "I think any time you're faced with adversity, you have something like that happen to you. You play in this league long enough, you're going to drop one, you're going to fumble one. Unfortunately, it happened to him when he was young; he doesn't have the bank of reps. But to see him respond the way he did, take accountability, and work on trying not to make that happen and let that happen again speaks volumes about who he is.

"It matters to him. It does. He loves football. The one thing about that kid is he loves football, and that's undeniable."

But being the kind of fixture he wants to be at receiver demands more than just logging time or catching passes from a machine when there's no defender on you.

There's a seriousness about the preparation off the field that's also a part of it.

Legette said Thursday he blamed himself for his recent injury, saying he hadn't done enough to keep himself ready.

"I've got to really take care of my body," he replied, when asked the biggest lesson he's learned in his rookie season. "I was doing it. I kind of got away from it."

It seems apparent from his tone that he doesn't intend to let that happen again.

He's had the benefit of a couple of elders this year who can both talk to him and show him what it takes to stay in the league and play at a high level. Between patron saint of the undrafted Adam Thielen and former seventh-rounder David Moore, Legette is being counseled by a couple of guys who have to work the fine points of the game because they were never given the benefit of the doubt that comes with draft status.

Legette and Moore have grown close over the year, with their shared rural backgrounds leading to a mutual appreciation of roadside rodeos and, well, a good raccoon.

But Moore said he appreciates the way Legette has approached his job since he's been here, showing the kind of daily dedication it takes to stay in the league.

"Just the whole professionalism, the way he approaches it, approaches the game all week," Moore replied when asked what stood out about Legette's rookie season. "Just how professional he became; he had to leave the rookie stage early, and I think he, I think he got past that rookie stage pretty good. Really just coming in working. I mean it's a long season, so really just staying on top of your game, and making the plays when they come to you. Also being smart on and off the field. The key's always staying available for when they need you, right?

"I mean, when I'm in the training room, he's in the training room. He's one of the last people to leave. He's one of the first people here, so I say he takes the professional way for sure, right?"

Legette might be hard on himself, but when grinders like Moore vouch for your work ethic, that means something, too. Hubbard and Tremble started their daily Jugs machine habit after their second year when a couple of third- and fourth-round picks were determined to push for more playing time. It was never given to either of them, and they realized that early on. They decided to earn it.

So when they showed up the week after the Philly game, and the first-round rookie was there to join them, it spoke to them.

"That's him being a professional, man," Tremble said. "Me and Chuba, we decided, hey, let's do something. We know how this league works now. We know time's limited for your opportunities, and we're like, let's go balls to the wall and try to do every single thing we can, and it's helped us a lot mentally. It helped us a lot in our game and I think that's kind of the secret sauce of success.

"You know everyone's a good athlete, everyone's gifted, but it's what you do to put yourself ahead of just 1 percent of the other guys who aren't doing it right. He gets it. That's a good sign."