Jerricho Cotchery’s status ahead of the Panthers’ Week 3 matchup with the Saints could be a euphemism for how many would describe Carolina’s receiving corps – bleak. And that was with Cotchery.

Now that he’s already been all but ruled out with a high ankle sprain, the Panthers’ thinnest position will be missing its most dependable part Sunday. 

At least that group has plenty of experience coming together when it seems like things can’t get any worse.

“We always had a next man up syndrome,” said Ted Ginn, who leads Panthers’ receivers with six receptions and 95 yards. “We lost a couple guys in our room, and everybody in there has been pretty upbeat with the tempo and everything. Knowing that every time is going to be a chance for them to shine. It’s time for us to step up like we’ve been doing.”

Even though they each caught a touchdown last week, many outside the building consider Ginn and Philly Brown as arguably the weakest starting receiving duo in the NFL. Behind them, it gets even murkier.

Second-round pick Devin Funchess should be ready for a bigger role by now, but after a preseason

hamstring injury put him behind, he’s still developing slowly.

“I really couldn’t tell you exactly how he fits right now because we’ve seen such a limited amount of him. We do need to see more,” coach Ron Rivera said this week.

The Panthers have no choice but to see more of him now. When Cotchery exited for good against the Texans, his snaps went to Funchess. The rookie was on the field for 12 more plays than he was in Week 1, but like in Jacksonville, he finished with just one catch.

The only other wideout on the 53-man roster is Kevin Norwood, who had a big chance go through hands against Houston. Late in the second quarter of his Panthers debut, Norwood failed to bring in a pass that was more like a knuckleball. Still, it’s a catch he could and probably should have made.

To his credit, Norwood jumped off the turf and caused a fumble when his miss turned into an interception. Plus, he impressed on special teams.

“To be honest, I thought I did pretty well,” Norwood said. “I blocked well, and besides that one miss, I played special teams well.”

The Panthers could also help fill Cotchery’s role with a player who has similar traits. Not flashy, but sure-handed, Brenton Bersin has been on the practice squad since he was released during final cuts. Incredibly, the Charlotte native is the longest-tenured Carolina receiver.

“It’s kind of funny that Bersin is somewhat of the principal in the meeting room,” quarterback Cam Newton said.

“We’ve got whatever going in from a pass pattern, a pass concept or block protections to new signals to whatever – Bersin is the guy. We have to clear with him, saying, ‘Well Bersin, what does this look like?’ ‘Well, that looks like so-and-so so-and-so.’ We can do that because Bers is there.”

Bersin, who spent 2013 on the practice squad, caught 13 passes in 15 games last year. While those numbers aren’t exciting, few on the roster are as familiar with the offense.

“Mentally, I know everything. It’s not like it’s going to go away overnight,” Bersin said. “I get a lot of routes on scout team, so I keep my routes crisp and everything else.”

So as the Panthers look to fill yet another hole among their wideouts, perhaps this week’s answer is on the scout team.

“Bers is as steady as they come. He’s a very reliable and dependable guy,” Newton said. “He always knows where he’s going to be, he always knows his assignment, and you never have to worry about him missing his responsibilities.”