Panthers WRs Diontae Johnson (rib) and Adam Thielen (hamstring) have been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. the Broncos. Johnson has been battling multiple injuries throughout the season. It's not the worst thing in the world that he's missing this game against stud CB Patrick Surtain with QB Bryce Young under center. We'll see if Johnson makes it back for Week 9. Thielen just returned to practice this week after coming off IR and isn't ready for game action yet. The Panthers will trot out Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Jonathan Mingo, and David Moore as their top four WRs this weekend. They'll struggle to score points.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) has been designated to return from IR and will practice on Wednesday. He's been out since injuring his hamstring at the end of the first half of Week 3. Thielen was a full-time player before going down but totaled just 12 targets across his 2.5 games. We'll see how Carolina divvies up playing time between Thielen and rookie WR Xavier Legette behind lead WR Diontae Johnson, but Thielen won't be much of a fantasy option in this struggling passing game.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen suffered a hamstring injury during the Panthers' win against the Raiders. The team is placing him on injured reserve, meaning Thielen will miss at least the next four games, eligible to return for Week 8's contest against the Denver Broncos.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen is expected to miss "some time" with the hamstring injury he suffered in the Week 3 win over the Raiders, according to insider Jordan Schultz. "An exact timetable is currently unclear, but he will be out a little," Schultz adds.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen injured a hamstring on his 31-yard TD catch near the end of the first half of Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. He's officially questionable to return. Thielen's absence will mean more playing time for WRs Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo, who had been splitting snaps.
Update: Thielen has been ruled out.
Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo has earned praise from those around the first week of training camp, showing improved route-running and a strong grasp of the new offense. Former Panthers WR Steve Smith Sr. also revealed this week that he worked with the former second-round pick over the summer.
Panthers HC Dave Canales said Wednesday that WR Diontae Johnson will be featured in the offense.
The Panthers acquired WR Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round pick from the Steelers in exchange for CB Donte Jackson and a sixth-rounder, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. It's a relatively cheap price to pay for a guy with 332 catches over the past four seasons. Johnson's production has largely been volume-based, though. His 6.7 yards per target over those last four years ranks 67th among 71 WRs with 200+ total targets during that stretch. Johnson didn't rank better 23rd in yards per route in any of those seasons. That said, he immediately becomes the Panthers' clear No. 1 WR. And Carolina figures to throw it a bunch more than the Arthur Smith-led Steelers. QB play is a concern, of course, after Bryce Young's ugly rookie season. But the move is still a win for Johnson's 2024 fantasy value. In Pittsburgh, meanwhile, George Pickens will likely get a crack at No. 1 WR duties. The Steelers will certainly be adding to the WR corps this offseason, though. And Arthur Smith's run-heavy offense will keep Pickens' upside capped.
The Panthers are making a surprise choice in hiring former Buccaneers OC Dave Canales as HC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Canales arrives after spending just one year with the Bucs. But that season seems to have revived QB Baker Mayfield's career. Overall, the Bucs ranked just 20th in points, 23rd in total yards, tied for 19th in yards per play, and 20th in offensive DVOA. Before that, Canales spent 13 years coaching offense in Seattle, including three years as WRs coach, five as QBs coach, and two as passing-game coordinator. Canales drew praise for his role in QB Geno Smith's 2022 breakout. His work with Smith and Mayfield almost certainly excited the Panthers, who likely envision Canales as the guy to help QB Bryce Young rebound from a troubling rookie season. Of course, Canales goes from QBs coach for Smith and OC for Mayfield to HC in Carolina. So be careful about assuming too much from his influence. We'll see who Canales brings in to fill out his coaching staff and what the Panthers can add to an offense that sported unimpressive talent in 2023 (and doesn't have a 2024 first-round pick). This seems like a positive move for Young's dynasty outlook, but temper your excitement.
The Panthers fired HC Frank Reich. He didn't even make it a full season in Carolina, going 1-10 in his 11 games. An offensive-minded coach, Reich's Panthers offense sits 30th in yards per game, 29th in points per game, and 31st in offensive DVOA. A poor group of skill-position players didn't help the cause, but Reich did very little to elevate the offense or rookie QB Bryce Young. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will finish out the season as interim HC, while OC Thomas Brown takes back over as play-caller. We'll see if the moves lead to any changes in player usage, but don't expect the offense to be noticeably better.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen caught only 1 of 3 targets for 2 yards in Sunday's loss to the Titans. Tennessee refused to let Thielen beat them, which easily resulted in his worst game as a Panther. Bryce Young fired off 31 passes, so Thielen's target share of 9.6% fell well shy of his average (27.9%). Week 13 turns up a bounce-back spot at Tampa Bay. But that’s the last favorable spot on his schedule until Week 17 at Jacksonville.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen hauled in 8 of 11 targets for 87 receiving yards in Week 11’s loss vs. the Cowboys. The veteran embodied one of the few aspects of Carolina’s offense that worked in the 33-10 blowout and accounted for 33.1% of the Panthers’ total offensive yards in the contest. This performance just goes to show fantasy managers that Thielen should remain in lineups even though his real-life team is struggling. With his pair of “dud” games in Week 9-10 behind him, it’s important to remember that Thielen has recorded at least 7 catches and 50 receiving yards in seven of 10 games played in 2023. Don’t be afraid to fire him up again in Week 12 vs. the Titans.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen caught 6 of 10 targets for 42 receiving yards in Week 10 vs. the Bears. The veteran’s performance on Thursday was a touch disappointing, though he posted 100% route participation and held 100% snap share in the contest. His efforts certainly weren’t for a lack of opportunity. But fantasy managers should be wary of Thielen’s opponent next week as well. The Panthers will be taking on a Cowboys defense that ranks as the fifth-toughest WR matchup per our adjusted fantasy points allowed and sixth in pass defense DVOA this season.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) missed practice all week and is listed as doubtful for Thursday night's game vs. the Bears. His absence should elevate WR Terrace Marshall into a top-3 role. When Chark missed Week 1, Marshall ran a route on 96% of Carolina's pass plays and drew six targets for a 15.8% share. He turned that action into just two catches for 23 yards, though, and is really only in play in one-game DFS contests. Chark's absence could mean an extra target or two for WRs Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen ended Week 8’s contest vs. the Texans with 8 catches on 11 targets for a team-leading 72 receiving yards. The veteran has now exceeded the 70-yard mark for a fifth-straight game. His teammate Jonathan Mingo also had a fine outing, tallying 62 yards on 4 catches on Sunday. Thielen belongs entrenched in fantasy lineups as long as continues to dominate.
Panthers HC Frank Reich told his players Monday that he's handing over play-calling duties to OC Thomas Brown, NFL Network reports. The move comes as Carolina heads into a Week 7 bye. That should help with the transition, which has been rumored to be on the way since before this season started. Brown was a trendy head-coaching candidate last offseason but is in his first year as an NFL OC. So it's tough to know what to expect here. Brown did spend his first three NFL coaching seasons on Sean McVay's offensive staff, though. And it's hard to imagine the Panthers getting much less efficient on offense. They sit third-worst so far at 4.4 yards per play and third-worst in net yards per pass attempt. We'll see whether the switch produces any noticeable boost to offensive efficiency and/or fantasy upside.
Panthers WR Adam Thielen stayed hot on Sunday, snagging 11 of 13 targets for 115 yards. He added his fourth TD over the past five weeks. Thielen did most of his damage in the first half, where he scored on an end zone ball from 8 yards out. The former Viking has now tallied 15+ PPR points in five straight. He’ll remain a must-start following a Week 7 bye.
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