Simply because the Panthers’ passing assault woke up, will probably be with out its most skilled choice. Adam Thielen, who caught a landing cross in Carolina’s Week 3 win, shall be shut down for some time.
Thielen suffered a hamstring injury, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the Panthers will place the veteran extensive receiver on IR. This transfer will give the 2023 free company pickup time to get better earlier than the midseason level.
Hamstring maladies can actually linger, and it may not be a lock if Thielen returns when first eligible. The 34-year-old wideout sustained what ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler calls a reasonably important damage. The Panthers noticed a hamstring damage sideline Jaycee Horn for 10 video games in 2023, with the IR transfer involving the cornerback sidelining him for nearly all of Frank Reich‘s short-lived tenure. Thielen shall be shut down till a minimum of Week 8.
A notable market shaped for Thielen following his 2023 Vikings launch, and the Panthers gained out with a three-year deal price $25M. Thielen, who commanded a $14M assure at signing, was far and away Carolina’s prime cross catcher final season. His 1,014 receiving yards led an anemic Panthers offense by practically 500. Carolina, nevertheless, has since remade its receiving corps by buying and selling for Diontae Johnson and utilizing a first-round choose on Xavier Legette. This duo shall be known as to choose up the slack whereas Thielen rehabs.
Thielen’s damage occurred throughout his diving TD catch from new starter Andy Dalton. This can mark the previous UDFA’s first missed sport motion because the 2021 season when he missed 4 contests. Thielen now has three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, which produced two Vikings extensions and his present Panthers pact. At 34, nevertheless, the Division II product is the NFL’s oldest lively wideout.
Whereas Thielen’s post-2024 Charlotte future is doubtful resulting from his age and nonguaranteed wage, this yr’s version will definitely miss the reliable possession goal. Johnson is coming off a career-high 122 receiving yards with Dalton taking up for Bryce Young, however this may thrust two of Carolina’s younger targets — Legette and second-year cog Jonathan Mingo — into heavier workloads. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how the youthful pair responds now that extra shall be anticipated following Dalton’s sturdy displaying.
