Adam Thielen to IR and more Panthers roster moves

One of Andy Dalton’s top targets will miss extended time

Veteran Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen has been placed on injured reserve. He is expected to miss “extended” time, but should return this season. He strained his hamstring in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders on the same play he punctuated his three receptions 40 yard stat line with a touchdown.

To fill out the depth chart at wide receiver, the Panthers have promoted undrafted free agent rookie Jalen Coker from the practice squad. As a reminder on how depth charts work, we should expect Thielen’s role and targets to be shared between second year receiver Jonathan Mingo, rookie Xavier Legette, and veteran wide out David Moore. Coker will likely see some opportunities eventually, as our one game sample of Andy Dalton in Dave Canales’ offense shows the ball may be spread far and wide.

Last week saw Dalton target eight different players, including two running backs and two tight ends. Let’s all get excited for Coker, but let’s also all temper that excitement for a few weeks.

On the defense, the Panthers also placed starting safety Jordan Fuller on injured reserve with his own hamstring injury. To fill that void, the team promoted undrafted free agent, rookie, and safety Demani Richardson and veteran defensive back Russ Yeast from the practice squad.

Yeast has some experience starting for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero from their time together with the Rams.

By NFL rule, both Thielen and Fuller will have to sit out at least the next four weeks before they can be designated to return to the Panthers active roster.

While Thielen and Fuller are both significant losses, they don’t change what the team is facing on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Burrow is leading a talented Bengals team that is hungry for their first win. That team has proven itself capable of scoring and they are facing a weak Carolina defense. The Panthers best chance at winning this game remains coming out on top of a shoot out, a strategy made that much more difficult now that they are missing a top receiver and a top safety.

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