Through six games for the Carolina Panthers, the 33-year-old wide receiver has 49 catches for 509 yards and four touchdowns. If he maintains that pace, he’d finish with a career-best 139 receptions.
That type of success hasn´t surprised coach Frank Reich, who pushed for the Panthers to sign Thielen after he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings this past offseason after 10 productive seasons and two Pro Bowls.
“I´ve tried to say that from the start, this guy is special,” Reich said. “He’s a special route runner and has special football intelligence and ability. He’s a unique and elite competitor. He’s an elite leader.”
However, Thielen is troubled by the fact that his production has not turned into a profit.
The Panthers (0-6) enter the bye week as the only undefeated team in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Panthers 42- 21. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Panthers 42- 21. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
“We need some kind of reset, need something to change what´s going on,” Thielen said after Carolina’s 42-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins last week. “Figure out each of us, look ourselves in the mirror and find a way to get better. But also just mentally and physically just get a little break and move on to the next part of the season.”
Thielen’s name has been the subject of trade rumors given that Carolina’s chances of snapping a five-season playoff drought are miniscule. No NFL team has rebounded from an 0-6 start to make the postseason in the Super Bowl era.
But the Panthers appear content to keep the highly productive Thielen around to aid in the development of rookie quarterback Bryce Young. The No. 1 overall pick struggled, even though he didn’t get much coverage and some of the team’s other wide receivers didn’t consistently separate from defenders.
Thielen has been a reliable target for Young through it all.
“You can tell Bryce has a lot of faith in him,” Reich said.
There were also questions about Thielen’s ability to break loose last season, even though he caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns for the Vikings. And some critics questioned whether the Panthers, desperate for a No. 1 receiver since the departure of Steve Smith Sr. in 2014, overpaid Thielen by giving him a three-year, $25 million contract with $11 million guaranteed. Those questions carried into the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, when Thielen caught two passes for 12 yards and was a non-factor playing with an ankle injury.
Over the past five games, he has averaged over nine receptions and nearly 100 yards per game. He has 11 hits in three of his last four games, which is tied for last in the league.
Thielen was Mr. Reliable. He has been targeted 59 times and has 49 tackles to tie Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase for the league lead in games this weekend.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins remembers talking to then-Minnesota assistant coach Kevin Stefanski about Thielen’s scouting report when he left Division II Mankato, Minnesota, as an undrafted rookie.
“Undrafted, try hard,” Cousins said. “You know, we always roll our eyes at reports of guys like that. So I probably wouldn’t give him the credit he deserved because I’d be like everyone else who judged the book by its cover by looking at his biography. And Kevin Stefanski is the one who said, “This guy’s a 4.4, this guy’s No. 1, this guy can do it.”
“So from day one, I went to Kevin’s meltdown and said, ‘OK, I’ve got to treat this guy like a first-round pick and block out the fact that he played D-II ball and he had to fight. up here,” Cousins said.
Thielen obviously benefited from playing with Stefon Diggs and later Justin Jefferson in Minnesota and was considered a secondary receiver.
But Cousins said he feels the Vikings actually have two No. 1 receivers.
“Obviously, Stefon Diggs became the clear No. 1 in this league and a Pro Bowler, and it was Adam — you could see it. They could go toe-to-toe,” Cousins “We had those two guys and obviously made it fun to play back-to-back. And Adam’s been doing it for so long.”
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches the ball during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) catches the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) runs for a touchdown as Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III (21) attempts a punt during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Detroit. The Lions won. 42-24 (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) makes a field goal as Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III (21) attempts a punt during the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit.
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