PHILADELPHIA — The Panthers drafted Xavier Legette to make big plays. He almost had the biggest of the season Sunday. They're going to keep giving him chances.

For a moment, with the Panthers driving for the win and the ball was in the air, the knot of players hanging around the 15-yard line and the crowd realized Legette had broken free from two defenders. It seemed like the Carolina Panthers had a chance to pull off the upset win against the Eagles.

For a moment, as the Bryce Young pass dropped perfectly in front of Legette and the rookie receiver pulled it in and rolled towards the end zone, it seemed like the Carolina Panthers actually had pulled off the upset win against the Eagles.

Then came the call. Incomplete catch, after Legette's fall to the ground jarred the ball loose.

"S---, I thought I caught that," said an exasperated Legette in the locker room after the 22-16 loss.

At first glance, it did seem like a catch. But the Panthers couldn't challenge. They were slow to the line on the subsequent third-down play, giving the NFL office time to decide to review the play, since it was within the final two minutes of the game. But the announcement that the play would be reviewed never came. After seeing the replay, the Panthers understood why.

"I thought that would have been the protocol but, you know, the ball moved around a little bit," Panthers head coach Dave Canales explained after the game. "I think we saw that, the officials saw it, we saw it on the sideline. We just thought it was close."

Legette, who had two catches for 39 yards on Sunday, watched the play once back in the locker room and had to admit the same.

"I just watched the video, they just put the replay up. I didn't know it hit the ground. I got to make the play," he said. "I seen as soon as I made contact with the ground, it popped out."

The rookie was drafted in the first round with hopes of being the big-play guy for Young and the Panthers. He did that at times too on Sunday, including a 31-yard completion earlier on that same final drive, to convert a third-and-11 deep in the Panthers own territory. That play gave them a shot, and that's what they were working to hang onto.

"I done made a couple of plays," Legette acknowledged, "but I got to make the ones when it matters. That one was the one to win the game."

Added Canales: "That's a big play we're counting on, and he'd be the first one to tell you he's got to make that play. And Bryce steps up makes a beautiful throw in the situation, had the coverage, we wanted all that. And so those are the plays that we just got to find a way to make for us to, to get back on the winning column."

One play does not a game make though, something Canales alluded to when referencing needing to control the controllables and make the little plays—on offense, defense and special teams—that are well within their power so that a long play within a minute to play doesn't determine a one-possession game.

And if Legette was brought to Charlotte to make those plays, remember that, along with the fact that his career is still young. He also took a number of hard shots Sunday, including one that sent him to the blue tent early in the game when the league spotter had him checked for a concussion (he cleared, and returned to the game).

"We're counting on him," Canales said of his message to his rookie. "Just go right to it and just let him know you're a huge part of what we're doing here and playing the X position, you get targets, and you get a lot of opportunities over there and so just making the most of those. But full confidence in Xavier to continue to just take steps."

Words, however supportive and well intentioned though, can be just words. To back it up, Young knows that means showing Legette over and over that he is their big-play guy and will continue to be, no matter early growing pains.

"I always know he's going to make the next one," Young assured. "I'm always going to have faith in that. Again, I see how hard he works and the type of guy he is. He's great for us, great in the locker room.

"Again, it's tough. We all miss things…(but) just make sure that I know not to—reinforce it with telling him and also with showing him and demonstrate, I'm going to keep throwing him the ball again. I trust him in every situation. That's not going to change. I'm going to, obviously, there's the words of it, I believe in you, but there's going to be action behind it."

Before Legette took a few minutes to speak on his performance, the good and the bad, from Sunday, veteran Adam Thielen stepped over and shared a few words with his fellow receiver. It was a juxtaposition of all that is football and a team; an old-head who has been in the league 12 years and a rookie who has been playing here for just over three months.

A guy who has been twice to the Pro Bowl, set NFL records and played in the postseason four times, encouraging a guy with the potential to match that and more. A guy who has seen it all and one who is seeing it all now for the first time.

"We've all been there," Thielen shared of the message. "I've played a long time, had some critical drops in my career, tough plays I didn't make. We all have it.

"He's a hard worker, he does all things, all the right way. And so we're proud of him and he had a great game. So, just keep working and definitely we're there for him."