Thielen (hamstring) was limited in practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Since Carolina designated him for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Thielen has managed a pair of capped sessions as he closes in on his recovery from the right hamstring injury that he suffered back in Week 3. Fellow WR Diontae Johnson hasn't practiced this week due to a rib issue, so the team may feel compelled to get Thielen back in the lineup Sunday in Denver if Johnson isn't able to suit up. Ultimately, the Panthers will need to activate Thielen from IR by Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET for him to have a chance to play this weekend.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Returns to limited practice
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Thielen (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Thielen was designated to return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday and can now be activated to the roster at any point. It's unclear if the Panthers expect him to play this Sunday in Denver, but his fantasy outlook won't be especially robust if he's cleared to suit up for the first time since Week 3. In addition to potentially having his snaps managed coming off the injury, Thielen would be working with Bryce Young rather than Andy Dalton (thumb) at quarterback while also facing off against a strong Denver pass defense.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Practice window officially opens
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The Panthers opened the 21-day practice window for Thielen (hamstring) on Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Thielen can be activated from injured reserve at any time within the three-week window, making him eligible to play as early as Sunday's game in Denver. The veteran wideout has sat out Carolina's last four contests due to a right hamstring strain. Once fully cleared, Thielen should reclaim a regular role in three-receiver sets alongside Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Expects to practice Wednesday
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Thielen (hamstring) said Monday he expects to have his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Thielen has missed the requisite four games since being placed on IR in September due to a right hamstring injury. It remains to be seen whether the veteran wideout could be a realistic candidate to get back on the field as early as Sunday's game against the Broncos, but when he's healthy, Thielen will rejoin Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette atop Carolina's wide receiver depth chart. With the Panthers currently on a four-game losing streak and Andy Dalton having been pulled out of the lineup late in the team's Week 7 40-7 loss to the Commanders, it's possible a change at QB back to Bryce Young could be in consideration by the time Thielen retakes the field.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Set to avoid surgery
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Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that Thielen won't require surgery for the right hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Carolina seemingly expects Thielen to make a full recovery from the injury through rest and rehab. After landing on injured reserve Tuesday, Thielen will be required to miss at least the team's next four games, and he won't be eligible to resume practicing until Week 8. Diontae Johnson should serve as the clear-cut No. 1 option in the Carolina passing attack sans Thielen, while young wideouts Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo will both move up a spot on the depth chart.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Lands on IR
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The Panthers placed Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Thielen sustained a hamstring injury while hauling in a 31-yard touchdown reception in Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders and will miss at least the next four games. Carolina signed wideout Jalen Coker from the practice squad to replace Thielen on the 53-man roster, but second-year player Jonathan Mingo and rookie Xavier Legette will be first in line to see added reps behind No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson while Thielen is on the mend.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Bound for IR
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The Panthers are expected to place Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Thielen exited Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders with a right hamstring injury and underwent an MRI on Monday. While the results of the MRI haven't been disclosed, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com relays that the injury is "fairly significant," and Carolina isn't preparing for Thielen to be available for any of its next four games. Expect the move to be made official later Tuesday or Wednesday, with Thielen's absence opening up more reps for youngsters Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette alongside No. 1 wideout Diontae Johnson.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Getting MRI on hamstring
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Thielen (hamstring) said after Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders that he will undergo an MRI on Monday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thielen was forced out of Sunday's win shortly after connecting with new starting quarterback Andy Dalton on a 31-yard touchdown in the first half, and he was subsequently unable to retake the field. He finished with three catches for 40 yards and one score. The results of Thielen's MRI could help clear up his availability for Week 4 against the Bears.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Ruled out Sunday
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Thielen (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's contest in Las Vegas, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
After connecting with QB Andy Dalton for a 31-yard touchdown snag late in the first half, Thielen stayed on the turf and was seen grabbing at his upper right leg, which was confirmed to be a hamstring injury. Thielen will end Week 3 action with three catches (on five targets) for 40 yards and a TD. With Thielen ruled out, Diontae Johnson should garner most of the attention from Dalton in the second half, while Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette and David Moore are the other healthy wide receivers on the Panthers' active roster.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Injures hamstring Sunday
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Thielen suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's contest at Las Vegas, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thielen remained on the turf after his 31-yard touchdown reception late in the first half, grabbing at his upper right leg in the process. If he's unable to reenter Sunday's game, he'll wrap up Week 3 with three catches (on five targets) for 40 yards and the aforementioned score.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Two receptions in Week 2 loss
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Thielen brought in two of three targets for 20 yards in the Panthers' 26-3 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.
Thielen's line was wholly uninspiring, but considering Bryce Young threw for only 84 yards overall, the wideout's yardage total actually qualified as the second highest on the Panthers for the afternoon. Like fellow accomplished veteran receiver Diontae Johnson, Thielen's fantasy value is significantly hampered by Young's shortcomings at the moment, and there's little reason to believe that will change in a Week 3 road matchup against the Raiders.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Modest numbers in season opener
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Thielen caught three of four targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 47-10 rout at the hands of the Saints.
The veteran wideout didn't post particularly impressive numbers, but he still led the Panthers in receiving yards, with most of the real estate coming on a 32-yard reception in garbage time during the fourth quarter. Thielen topped 1,000 yards in his first year with Carolina, but he'll likely need Bryce Young to take a big step forward in his development to reach that mark again in 2024, something that there was little evidence of Sunday. Thielen and the Panthers passing game will try to shake off this performance in Week 2 against the Chargers.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: One catch in preseason finale
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Thielen caught his only target for 21 yards in Saturday's 31-26 preseason win over the Bills.
Thielen and the rest of the first-team offense played the opening drive, which ended in an eight-yard touchdown catch by Jordan Matthews. Offseason trade acquisition Diontae Johnson and rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette could cut into Thielen's target share in 2024, so matching last year's total of 137 will be tough, but Carolina's entire offense could benefit from increased efficiency if 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young can take a step forward in his second NFL regular season, which kicks off Sept. 8 against the Saints.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Not playing Thursday
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Thielen isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game in New England, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.
Carolina is sitting 33 players in its exhibition opener, namely QB Bryce Young, RBs Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks (knee), WRs Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (foot) and TEs Tommy Tremble (hamstring) and Ian Thomas (calf). Thielen is expected to retain a key role out of the slot in his second campaign with the team after racking up 103 catches (on 137 targets) for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests in 2023.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Could stay in slot in 2024
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Thielen projects to reprise his role as the top slot receiver for Carolina during the 2024 season, with newcomers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (hamstring) slated to primarily line up on the outside, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Thielen was one of the few offensive playmakers to find success during Bryce Young's rookie season, as he compiled a 103-1,014-4 receiving line while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Adding an established veteran in Johnson and a high-upside first-round rookie in Legette could give Young the tools to take a step forward, and with that help elevate the Carolina passing offense. Despite an increase in target competition, Thielen's combination of established chemistry with Young along with the slot role could still make him a go-to target for the second-year signal-caller, especially early during the 2024 campaign if Legette needs some time to build momentum.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Quiet end to campaign
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Thielen caught two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Buccaneers.
Thielen was one of the very few bright spots on the Panthers this season and the main target rookie quarterback Bryce Young could consistently connect with. The 33-year-old caught 103 passes -- the second most of his career -- on 137 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. Despite a new front office and coaching staff set to arrive in Carolina this offseason, the veteran Thielen remains under contract for 2024, when he figures to serve as a reliable outlet for Young even if the team improves the supporting cast around him.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Team-leading catch total in loss
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Thielen secured all six targets for 38 yards in the Panthers' 26-0 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
Thielen paced the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while sharing the team lead in targets, but his modest yardage tally particularly underscores how underwhelming a day it was for Carolina's air attack. Thielen's fantasy value is unmistakably capped by Bryce Young's struggles most weeks, but he'll at least head into the Week 18 finale against the Buccaneers with back-to-back six-catch efforts.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Productive in Week 16 loss
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Thielen brought in six of eight targets for 94 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Thielen tied DJ Chark for the team lead in receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards. The veteran wideout helped fuel a second-half comeback by the Panthers that just fell short, even recording a 22-yard grab on a last-gasp final drive that fizzled when time ran out with Carolina having reached the Packers' 31-yard line. Thielen's catch and target totals were his best since Week 11, while his yardage was his most prolific since Week 6. Consequently, Thielen has some momentum as he heads into a Week 17 road matchup against a leaky Jaguars secondary on New Year's Eve.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Four catches in close win
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Thielen secured four of seven targets for 43 yards in the Panthers' 9-7 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Thielen set the pace for the Panthers in receiving yards and targets while sharing the team lead in receptions with Jonathan Mingo. The veteran wideout has naturally seen his production capped some weeks due to Bryce Young's struggles; however, he now has a 9-117 line on 14 targets over the last two games heading into a Week 16 home battle against a Packers team that allowed 381 passing yards and four touchdowns to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Three grabs in Sunday's loss
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Thielen caught three of six targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Buccaneers.
Rookie Jonathan Mingo saw a career-high 10 targets and led Carolina in catches and receiving yards, and there wasn't much production left over for anyone else. Thielen has now failed to reach 50 yards in four of the last five games, and with the Panthers focusing on the development of their young players rather than feeding the veteran free agents that bolstered the roster in the offseason, the former Viking could struggle to post consistent fantasy numbers down the stretch.
