Carolina placed Thomas (calf) on its injured reserve list Monday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thomas was forced out of Carolina's last game before its bye early by a calf injury, and now he'll have to sit out for at least the next four contests as he recovers. In the meantime, Feleipe Franks could see an uptick in offensive snaps.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Dealing with calf issue
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Thomas is questionable to return to Sunday's Week 10 game against the Giants due to a calf injury, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thomas was hurt in the first half and was subsequently deemed questionable to return. If he's unable to get back into the game, it would further thin a Panthers tight-end corps that is already without Tommy Tremble (back).
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Serving as No. 2 TE
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Thomas caught both of his targets for four yards in Sunday's 40-7 loss to the Commanders.
Thomas was out-produced by Ja'Tavion Sanders (six catches for 61 yards) for the second consecutive week since returning from injury, suggesting that Sanders has already taken over the Panthers' No. 1 tight end role. With Tommy Tremble (back) returning from injury as soon as next week, Thomas could be further relegated to Carolina's third-string tight end.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Cleared to play
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Thomas (hip) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Commanders, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thomas didn't get much playing time the past two weeks with Tommy Tremble in concussion protocol, and it seems Tremble may soon get clearance after practicing without restrictions Thursday and Friday. Rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders is the most interesting Carolina tight end for fantasy purposes, and it remains to be seen what his workload looks like if Tremble and Thomas are simultaneously available for the first time this season.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Added to injury report
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Thomas (hip) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Thomas was added to the injury report after not being listed Wednesday. He previously spent Weeks 1-5 on injured reserve with a calf strain, and he played just 34 percent of snaps on offense upon returning for a 38-20 loss to the Falcons this past Sunday. Rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders has been getting most of Carolina's TE snaps of late, but that could change with Tommy Tremble returning to full practice Thursday and seemingly on track to clear concussion protocol soon.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Active against Falcons
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Thomas (calf) is active for Sunday's Week 6 matchup against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thomas' active status was foreshadowed by a combination of his activation from injured reserve Saturday and the ruling out of position mate Tommy Tremble due to a concussion. With Thomas now officially in uniform for the first time this season, the veteran tight end projects to split duties at the position with rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders versus Atlanta.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Activated, expected to play Week 6
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Thomas (calf) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and is expected to suit up Sunday versus Atlanta, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Thomas injured his calf in early August and hasn't yet suited up this season. That's expected to change Sunday, as the tight end is expected to make his 2024 debut, per Zietlow. Thomas will likely take over the starting role at the position, and his return comes at a good time for Carolina with Tommy Tremble ruled out Sunday due to a concussion.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Bumped to limited participant
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Thomas (calf) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Carolina's official team site reports.
It looked like Thomas could see a return off injured reserve as early as this week with a full practice Wednesday, but he may be used with more caution and pushed to a return next week. The 6-foot-4 tight end will likely need a full practice on Friday if there's any hope of an active status Sunday against the Falcons.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Practices in full
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Thomas (calf) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Thomas appears to be nearing a return to the field after missing Carolina's first five games of the season due to a calf issue, but the 28-year-old must still be activated from injured reserve if he's to suit up Sunday against the Falcons. Head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Thomas could "absolutely" be back for the Panthers' Week 6 matchup if he proves he's moved past his calf injury during practice this week, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Will return to practice
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Thomas (calf) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Thomas has been out of action since before the season began and has missed the mandatory four games on IR. He'll now be able to practice with the team, although he'll have to be added back to the 53-man roster to suit up Sunday against the Bears.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Lands on IR
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Thomas (calf) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.
Both Thomas and expected backup Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) were both ruled out Friday, which means fourth-round rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders will make his first career start Sunday against the Saints. Thomas wasn't particularly useful from a fantasy perspective last year, but he was a reliable blocker and had played at least 600 snaps from 2020-22. The seven-year veteran won't be eligible to return until early October.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Thomas (calf) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice.
Thomas has been dealing with the calf issue for over a month now, and back-to-back DNPs to open the practice week would suggest he's on the wrong side of questionable for Week 1. Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back) is also dinged up for Carolina, leaving rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders atop the depth chart, followed by Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Fails to practice Wednesday
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Thomas (calf) didn't take part in practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thomas injured his calf in early August and was a spectator for the Panthers' first Week 1 practice along with Tommy Tremble (hamstring/back). With Thomas and Tremble sidelined Wednesday, fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews and Messiah Swinson are the healthy tight ends on the active roster. Thomas and Tremble will have two more sessions this week to put themselves on paths to playing Sunday in New Orleans before Carolina potentially rules on both players' availabilities.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Unlikely for Week 1
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Thomas (calf) did not practice Monday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thomas has been sidelined for nearly a month with the injury, and although he was hopeful for a Week 1 return, Newton believes it "seems like a stretch" that the veteran tight end will be able to play Sunday against the Saints. Considering the time Thomas has missed already, he might not be in game shape even if he returns to practice in coming days. With Tommy Tremble (hamstring) also questionable, the Panthers could be turning to rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders and veteran Jordan Matthews to handle all the tight-end snaps Sunday.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Surprisingly busy during OTAs
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Thomas caught a surprising number of passes during Carolina's offseason program, ESPN's David Newton reports.
The 2018 fourth-round pick got a lot of snaps and routes early in his career but never improved on a rookie season with 36 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He then had four straight years between 136 and 197 yards, before sinking to five catches for 56 yards last season while playing a career-low 206 snaps. It sounds like Thomas may be a better fit in new coach Dave Canales' scheme, but fantasy value still seems a bit far-fetched for a player with 1,055 yards and four TDs on 2,975 career snaps. The Panthers also have Tommy Tremble and 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders competing for playing time at tight end, with the former better suited to blocking and the latter more of a receiving threat. Sanders is the only one of the bunch that seems to offer any real upside to become a fantasy-worthy pass catcher.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Career-worst campaign
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Thomas finished the regular season with five catches on nine targets for 56 yards in 12 games.
Thomas endured the worst campaign of his six-year career, with his five missed games playing a factor. Even when healthy, though, Thomas has long been a blocking tight end, not topping 200 receiving yards since his rookie year. With the Panthers having a potential out from the final year of Thomas' current contract, it remains to be seen whether he'll return to Carolina under a new front office and coaching staff.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Suiting up for Week 16
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Thomas (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Packers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thomas will return from a one-game absence caused by an ankle injury. He logged a full practice session Friday, so he should be able to return to his typical role of splitting reps with Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Logs another limited session
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Thomas (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Thomas has now practiced for the second consecutive day after missing Carolina's Week 15 win over the Falcons with an ankle issue. The veteran tight end will almost certainly carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to record a full practice session Friday. Thomas' availability will be something to look out for as the week progresses, as Carolina could be without both Tommy Tremble (illness) and Hayden Hurst (concussion) in Week 16.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Remains sidelined Thursday
Rotowire
Thomas (ankle) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice.
Stephen Sullivan is the lone healthy Carolina tight end, after both Thomas and Hayden Hurst (concussion) logged DNPs Wednesday and Thursday, while Tommy Tremble (hip) got in a pair of limited sessions. Thomas has four catches for 51 scoreless yards on six targets across nine appearances this season.
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Panthers' Ian Thomas: Logs DNP
Rotowire
Thomas (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
Thomas exited Sunday's game against the Saints with the injury and appears to still need more time to recover. The sixth-year tight end will likely need to ramp up his activity level over the next two days to play Week 15 against the Falcons.
