INDIANAPOLIS—Dave Canales was forced to admit that his text group with Dan Morgan and Brandt Willis doesn't have a fun group name.

"Very boring, it's Dan, Brandt, and Dave," Canales smiled. The group chat is always busy though.

"Pretty much all day," Canales said as to how often it goes off. "Just little things, things from field set-ups for offseason and training camp, things from personnel, you know, things from staff, all those things just constantly making sure that we're on the same page about stuff."

Spending the past year working hand-in-hand, learning the roster, tossing ideas back and forth and sending countless texts, is why all three were able to arrive in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Combine feeling more relaxed, comfortable, and motivated for what's to come.

"As I've been around the players, then we can kind of continue that alignment in those conversations, dreaming about what this team could be and doing that together," Canales explained of how the trio's working relationship has grown.

"Tons of conversations between (Dan) and I and Brandt, our text chain and phone calls that happened, I just, I feel so much more, I feel so much more clarity about where we need to go, what we need to address, and how we can utilize different players because of spending that time together."

Injury Updates

A couple of Panthers rookies took care of lingering injuries after the season, while another began a long rehab.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette did not have surgery on his wrist, Dan Morgan shared on Tuesday at the Combine. The rookie had revealed during the latter quarter of the season that his wrist had to be wrapped for games.

"I know he said something during the season, but you know, I think our doctors, and his side, evaluated that and felt like surgery wasn't needed."

The wrist will just require the off season to heal up, according to Morgan. Legette did however have surgery on his foot. It was an injury Morgan said was there "pretty much all season, so we decided to do a little procedure on that."

While both Morgan and Canales were hesitant to put a timeline on Legette's recovery, Morgan did feel confident it wouldn't be a long process.

"I think it's more of a short term; in terms of recovery, I think it's more short term, so he'll be running sooner than later, and he'll be ready to go."

Morgan is also not putting a timeline on running back Jonathon Brooks. The rookie tore his ACL during Week 14 last season, his second tear on the same knee in a little over a calendar year.

"Definitely disappointed for him, disappointed for us, but yeah, not going to put any timeline on it now and we'll just kind of see where it goes," Morgan said of Brooks.

Morgan also updated reporters on linebacker Trevin Wallace, sharing Wallace had surgery on his shoulder after this season.

"He's out of the sling now, rehabbing, feeling good and excited about his future."

Conversations Happening in Indy

With the majority of the NFL world in one place for an entire week, it is a good opportunity for important conversations about the future to happen. Dan Morgan is letting those conversations play out before any major free agency decisions are made for the future of the Panthers.

Kicker Eddy Piñeiro, safety Xavier Woods, and tight end Tommy Tremble are all guys Morgan is letting test the market for their value, with plans for conversations to take place soon.

"Definitely not going to close the door on (Eddy)," Morgan said, "but at the same time we will be actively looking."

As for Tremble, Morgan said "our tight end room is a pretty thin tight end room right now. Ja'Tavion Sanders is the front line guy right now. That is an area that we need to address whether in free agency or draft or both.

"Tommy's a guy that we would like to get back. We're going to let him test the market. We're going to let him and his agents and his team be here and kind of see what the market is for them."

The same goes for Xavier Woods and "then at the appropriate time we'll circle back with his agents and go from there."

Punter Johnny Hekker is also a free agent, but is someone else Morgan isn't closing the door on just yet.

"Johnny's another guy that we've talked about bringing back and we'd like to bring back. Brandt is talking to his agents and you know, we'll see where that goes."

A bright spot for the Panthers this past season was the offensive line. The unit took major strides, consistently grading out as one of the top units in the league. Now with Austin Corbett and Cade Mays set to become free agents in March, Morgan and the Panthers are still weighing a return.

"Yeah, we're talking to the agents, myself and Brandt are talking to agents," Morgan said. "Both guys, we're talking to them and working on things right now and trying to get things hammered out and get them back as Carolina Panthers."

Andy's Return

The Panthers signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a new contract this month. Dalton spent a year backing up Bryce Young in 2023. The veteran passer was named the starter ahead of Week 3 last season, spending five weeks in that role, before a car accident upended his season, moving Young back into that role.

In his five starts and six games overall last season, Dalton went 106-160 (66.3 percent) for 989 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

Dalton's veteran presence, playoff experience and familiarity with Young were crucial to his return in Charlotte though.

"I think obviously Andy, you know, just his resume and what he's done in this league, to have a quarterback in a backup role that's won as many games, he's been in playoff games, he brings that experience," Morgan bragged on Tuesday.

"So first and foremost, having him back for that reason and then also, him and Bryce have such a good relationship. The chemistry is great in the quarterback room, so that's not something that we really wanted to mess with. And we're just excited to get him back."