Nfl Combine coverage, Panthers’ schedule and 49ers’ pick to watch in Indianapolis
The nfl combine opens this week at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and runs through Sunday, March 1, with more than 300 draft prospects set to participate in interviews, medical checks and on-field workouts.
Nfl Combine: How to watch and when
Live on-field drill coverage will air on NFL Network and stream on NFL+ beginning Thursday afternoon. Live coverage begins at 12 p. m. PT on Thursday, Feb. 26 and continues through Sunday, March 1; NFL+ will also feature live press conferences, insider analysis, and full drill coverage on connected TV and mobile devices. Streaming options listed for the event include NFL+, DirecTV, Fubo and other streaming platforms.
Panthers’ schedule and who will speak
Carolina’s general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales will speak from the podium on Tuesday, February 24 around 1 p. m. and 2 p. m. Fans can read a full recap and watch the press conferences on panthers. com that afternoon and throughout the week. Morgan said at the end of the season that Carolina's draft board already had 600 players on it, and the team will use the combine to meet many of those prospects in Indianapolis.
Prospect interviews, drills and the field schedule
Over four days, prospects will take part in team interviews, medical evaluations and position-specific on-field workouts in front of general managers, coaches and scouts from across the league. Prospects will take to the microphone beginning on Wednesday and go by position through Saturday, with each player spending between 10 and 20 minutes at the podium to discuss background, where they see themselves fitting into NFL teams and which clubs they've already met with—typically at the Senior Bowl or East-West Shrine Bowl in January. Highlights of those interviews are streamed on NFL Network and relevant moments and answers will be recapped on panthers. com.
The on-field workouts run Thursday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 1, with position groups rotating by day. The top prospects will take the field starting Thursday, Feb. 26 and go through cone drills, position drills and testing drills such as the vertical jump, broad jump and the 40-yard dash. Specific podium windows listed for interviews include 10–11 a. m. for Defensive Line and Placekickers, and 10: 30–11: 30 a. m. for Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers.
Top prospects to watch in Indianapolis
Several of college football's most recognizable names are scheduled to participate. Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is among the headliners, though he is not expected to throw during on-field drills. Other quarterbacks named for on-site appearances include Ty Simpson (Alabama), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) and Carson Beck (Miami). On the defensive side, Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and safety Caleb Downs headline the defensive class, alongside edge rushers David Bailey (Texas Tech) and Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami). A complete list of athletes invited to the combine is here and results from the on-field drills will be tracked here.
Other broadcast notes and context around the 49ers and Panthers
The San Francisco 49ers currently hold the No. 27 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Broadcast and streaming information in the same release covered the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl Games in San Francisco and listed broadcast details for several 49ers games: the Divisional Round matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, the Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field, the Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium, the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium, and the Week 16 'Monday Night Football' matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Panthers staff moves, roster talk and notes from Indianapolis
Photos from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine showed Panthers head coach Dave Canales and President of Football Operations/General Manager Dan Morgan speaking to the media. Canales said he saw an opportunity for growth that required letting go of something he loved; the decision was hard but creates opportunities as Brad Idzik takes over play calling. Canales addressed Bryce Young's growth, expectations for Xavier Legette and Dom Capers' impact as he moves on. Morgan discussed the future of left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, the search for pass-rushers (possibly plural), quarterbacks and more, saying he wouldn't rule out any avenue but places a high premium on upgrading his old position. Canales said the move would allow him to take a broader view of the team as a whole.
Additional notes from Panthers coverage include a sponsorship announcement—Lowe's becomes the Official Stadium Renovation Partner of Bank of America Stadium—and a lighter aside that Kuechly insisted they call it "JJ and Luke, " with the Hall of Famer and the long-serving long snapper having a lot to talk about. The Panthers found themselves a kick (unclear in the provided context).
Next up on the schedule: Panthers media appearances on Tuesday, February 24 around 1 p. m. and 2 p. m., and on-field workouts across the league beginning Thursday, Feb. 26 and running through Sunday, March 1.
