Thielen said Monday he intents to evaluate his potential playing future now that Carolina's regular season has concluded, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Thielen said he's currently leaning a certain direction but isn't ready to reveal his thoughts. The 34-year-old veteran has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers, though Carolina has a potential 'out' this offseason with only $5 million in dead cap. Still, Thielen was again one of Bryce Young's most trusted targets in the passing game during the 2024 campaign, in which he compiled a 48-615-5 receiving line on 62 targets, despite suiting up for just 10 games. If Thielen decides to continue his NFL career, it would seem in the best interest of both sides for him to stick with the Panthers.
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Thielen said Monday he intents to evaluate his potential playing future now that Carolina's regular season has concluded, David Newton of ESPN.com reports. Thielen said he's currently leaning a certain direction but isn't ready to reveal his thoughts. The 34-year-old veteran has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers, though Carolina has a potential 'out' this offseason with only $5 million in dead cap. Still, Thielen was again one of Bryce Young's most trusted targets in the passing game during the 2024 campaign, in which he compiled a 48-615-5 receiving line on 62 targets, despite suiting up for just 10 games. If Thielen decides to continue his NFL career, it would seem in the best interest of both sides for him to stick with the Panthers.
Thielen secured five of six targets for 44 yards in the Panthers' 44-38 overtime win over the Falcons on Sunday. Thielen made his usual solid contributions in the season-ending victory, finishing second in receptions and targets and third in receiving yards. Thielen was a key element in Bryce Young's resurgence over the second half of the campaign, and after a second straight productive season in Carolina, he could certainly be back in 2025 for what would be his contract year.
Thielen secured five of six targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 48-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. Thielen led the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while finishing second in targets, and he was on the receiving end of both of Bryce Young's touchdown passes (17, 40 yards). The veteran wideout's multi-score tally was his first of the season, and he'll take aim at the vulnerable Falcons secondary to close out the season in Week 18.
Thielen (hamstring) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. The Panthers placed a cap on Thielen's practice reps Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring issue, but it won't stop him from being available to the Panthers offense in Week 17. He'll be facing a banged-up Buccaneers secondary Sunday that he took for eight catches (on 10 targets) for 99 yards and one touchdown back in Week 13.
Thielen was limited at practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports. After not being included on Carolina's first practice report of the week Wednesday, Thielen was added to it one day later. His practice restrictions may be maintenance-related, but the health concern is a new one for the veteran wide receiver. As such, Thielen's status will be monitored as the weekend draws closer to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
Thielen corralled five of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals. Thielen cashed in one of Bryce Young's two touchdown strikes Sunday, bringing the receiver's season line up to 38-461-3 in eight starts. The 33-year-old Thielen has been particularly lethal since returning from injured reserve in Week 12, averaging 6.0 receptions and 70.4 yards with two of his three TDs coming over that five-game span. Those numbers are good enough for starting consideration in Week 17 against Tampa Bay in virtually any format.
Thielen recorded five receptions on seven targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 30-14 loss to the Cowboys. The Panthers couldn't get their passing attack on track, with the only explosive play being an 83-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker. Thus, despite leading the team in targets and receptions, Thielen turned in a modest performance. Positively, he should remain Bryce Young's top target, though the overall state of the Carolina offense may lead to inconsistent results.
Thielen caught nine of 11 targets for 102 yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles. It's the first time this season that Thielen has topped 100 yards, with his last such performance coming in Week 6 of the 2023 campaign. The veteran wideout has posted a 20-258-1 line on 25 targets over three games since returning from a hamstring injury, giving him significant momentum heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.
Thielen recorded eight receptions on 10 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Buccaneers. Thielen led the team in targets and posted his highest yardage total since Week 6 of the 2023 season. His longest catch came on a 25-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the game for what appeared to be the game-winning score. He also chipped in a pair of 16-yard grabs and narrowly missed another touchdown grab just before halftime when he was ruled out of bounds on a controversial call. While the Panthers will likely try to get Xavier Legette and some of their other younger pass catchers involved down the stretch, Thielen has quickly become a favorite target of Bryce Young in two games since returning from a hamstring injury.