Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has been out since injuring his hamstring in Week 3. After a stint on injured reserve, the veteran wide receiver is nearing a return.
What’s the latest on Thielen’s status, and will he play in Week 10 against the New York Giants?
What Is Adam Thielen’s Injury?
During the Panthers’ Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Thielen hauled in a 31-yard touchdown from Andy Dalton with 28 seconds remaining in the second half. He immediately appeared to be in pain while his Panthers teammates started signaling for medical attention. Thielen left the field with a limp and was ruled out shortly after.
DIME TIME from El Rifle Rojo pic.twitter.com/XNzO3e5gwr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 22, 2024
The Panthers decided to put Thielen on IR, but on Oct. 23, the team designated his return by opening his 21-day practice window.
Thielen inked a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers last offseason then posted a 103-1,014-4 line in his first season in the NFC South.
After playing in all 17 games last season, Thielen has now dealt with this hamstring injury and a shoulder issue. In three games, he recorded eight receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.
Is Thielen Playing in Week 10?
Thielen logged two limited practices leading up to Week 9 before sitting out Friday’s practice. This seems to be part of Carolina’s load management plan for the 34-year-old, as he had the same practice pattern before Week 8.
It does appear that Thielen is nearing a return, however. Head coach Dave Canales said before Week 9 that Thielen was “trending” in the right direction but that the team wanted to be “completely sure” about his readiness to return. The good news is that he reportedly expects Thielen to be ready for the team’s Week 10 game against the New York Giants in Germany.
Canales believes all three will play next week in Germany. https://t.co/bRrSRbSMz1
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) November 1, 2024
The only catch is if Thielen is traded by Tuesday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers are among the teams that have expressed interest in acquiring Thielen ahead of the trade deadline.
Carolina has a bye in Week 11, which would give Thielen an extra week to recover from his first game in nearly two months should he return.
How Has Thielen’s Absence Impacted the Carolina Panthers?
Right now it’s difficult to say what Carolina’s pecking order would be in the receiver room. Their leading receiver for the season is Diontae Johnson, who was traded before Week 9. In addition, rookie first-rounder Xavier Legette was hampered by a toe injury before that Week 9 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Rookie Jalen Coker has come on strong, scoring his first career touchdown in the team’s Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. Coker has played over half the snaps every week since Week 5, indicative of his entrenched role in the offense.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
Thielen would likely be the top target based on his 2023 track record with Bryce Young. Last season, Thielen led the Panthers with 103 catches for 1,014 yards. It was his first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2018, which was his last Pro Bowl appearance with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Panthers’ 11-personnel sets moving forward will likely include Thielen, Coker, and Legette, with the veteran occupying an every-down presence as long as he’s fully healthy. That may take a week or two given his extended absence, but Thielen should be a quietly reliable option once the fantasy playoffs arrive.