The Spin: Thielen placed on IR ahead of Sunday's game
Thielen won't return to the Bank of America Stadium until Week 8; he left early during the Panthers' win.
CHARLOTTE — Wide receiver Adam Thielen has been placed on the injury reserve following the Panthers’ 36-22 win over the Las Vegas Rams. Thielen injured his hamstring while diving and catching Andy Dalton’s third touchdown pass just before halftime. Although Thielen caught his first touchdown of the season, he was unable to celebrate. He limped off the field, shaking his head with frustration.
Thielen, along with safety Jordan Fuller, are set to miss four weeks of Panthers games. They’ll miss crucial matches against the Bengals, Bears, Falcons, and Commanders.
Thielen had eight receptions and 107 receiving yards in three appearances before his injury. The season prior, Thielen was Bryce Young’s main target, clearing 1,000 receiving yards on 103 receptions. The 34-year-old, who made the Pro Bowl twice with the Vikings, will avoid surgery and figures to return as soon as possible.
Fuller accounted for 14 combined tackles through three games. Head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Thielen and Fuller’s injuries were ‘pretty good hamstrings.’
“So not something that we expect to just come back quickly there," Canales admitted.
THE SPIN: Adam Thielen’s injury isn’t the worst thing that could happen to the Panthers immediately after their first win of the season, but it’s pretty bad. Thielen was the WR2 behind Diontae Johnson. Even if he’s entering the twilight of his career, Thielen’s still a solid route-runner with reliable hands and speed.
The focus turns to those who will step up. The most obvious choice is Xavier Legette, who has seen just ten targets through the season’s first weeks. He’s shown glimmers of brilliance — catching an Andy Dalton ball and running 26 yards after the catch to bring the Panthers into crucial red zone territory early in the second quarter. He’sproven himself an elite route-runner who can routinely get open.
Another player who could see more targets is Jonathan Mingo, who looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season. Mingo struggled in his rookie season last year — showcasing behavior issues, a lack of effort, and and an all-around mediocre year in route-running. Mingo could shine in a revamped role led by Canales — Thielen’s injury is the perfect opportunity for the Panthers front office to keep Mingo as a building peace or abandon him.
In other news, star offensive guard Damien Lewis has suffered a UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) injury in his elbow and will miss the Panthers’ Week 4 clash against the Bengals. Lewis plans to play through it and will avoid a spot on the injury reserve, but second-year lineman Chandler Zavala will earn a starting spot in the interim as Lewis recovers. Lewis has been an integral piece of the Panthers’ revamped offensive line and ranks highly in pressures allowed throughout the league.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is on track to play on Sunday after sitting out Thursday’s rainy practice to protect his strained groin. Fellow offensive guard Robert Hunt has been marked questionable and was a limited participant in Friday’s practice — if he’s unable to play tomorrow, four-year vet Brady Christensen will take over.
Rookie running back Jonathon Brooks’ progress as he nurses a torn ACL is promising, per Canales. The ex-Texas star, along with LB DJ Wonnum and CB Dane Jackson, are close to returning but have some hurdles to overcome as they look to return to the field. Brooks’ return makes the Panthers’ crowded running back room even busier. Chuba Hubbard looks like the indisputable first-choice running back following a dominant Week 3 where he reached 169 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown last Sunday. However, there’s a fair chance that Brooks could surpass the out-of-favor Miles Sanders as the RB2.
Although multiple league sources and journalists have linked QB Bryce Young to a offseason trade away from Carolina, the front office is adamant that the former Heisman winner stays in Charlotte. The Miami Dolphins, currently fielding backup QB Skylar Thompson after Tua Tagovailoa’s scary concussion against the Bills, are the most interested suitor. Although coach Mike McDaniels is well-known for reviving quarterbacks’ careers, there’s still optimism both in the Panthers front office and inside Young’s camp that he can come back from his previous struggles.