Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is heading to injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, sidelining him for a minimum of four weeks. This development comes after he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
The injury occurred as Thielen made a remarkable diving touchdown catch just before halftime during Carolina’s impressive 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. At 34 years old, he did not return for the second half of the game.
In Thielen’s absence, the Panthers are likely to rely on either Jonathan Mingo, a second-round draft choice from 2023, or rookie Xavier Legette, their first-round pick, to step into the starting role for the upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Throughout the first three games of the season, Thielen recorded eight receptions for 109 yards, making his absence a significant setback for the Panthers’ offense. This unit had just begun to find its rhythm under quarterback Andy Dalton, who took over for struggling 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who has faced difficulties with a 2-16 record as a starter in the NFL.
[Related: The latest NFL power rankings]
To fill Thielen’s spot on the roster, the Panthers have signed free agent wide receiver Jalen Coker. Additionally, Carolina made some changes to its defensive lineup, bringing in defensive backs Demani Richardson and Russ Yeast, while placing backup Jordan Fuller on injured reserve and waiving tight end Messiah Swinson.
