Panthers WR Adam Thielen reaches notable regular-season milestone in matchup vs. Jaguars
The Carolina Panthers’ season hasn’t gone as planned, but wide receiver Adam Thielen has delivered on his offseason expectations in his first year with the franchise.
On Sunday, Thielen solidified the second 100-catch/1,000-yard season of his career against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thielen hadn’t accomplished that feat since 2018, when he received his second Pro Bowl nod.
Thielen’s reached the milestone on a 5-yard completion from rookie quarterback Bryce Young in the fourth quarter of the blowout 26-0 loss to Jacksonville at EverBank Stadium. Thielen, who turned 33 in August, has been the team’s most durable and productive playmaker on offense throughout the campaign.
He has also been Young’s most trusted target in the pass game.
The Panthers (2-14) haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since wideout DJ Moore eclipsed the mark in 2021 with 1,157 receiving yards. The last 100-catch season for the franchise was in 2019, when running back Christian McCaffrey collected 116 grabs for 1,005 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Following the shellacking by the Jaguars, Thielen has 101 catches for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns on the year.
“I think it’s something that when I look back at it, some day, when I’m done playing, I think it’ll be an achievement, I guess,” Thielen said. “But, right now, there’s things I know that I can do better, and things I want to continue to get better at — that’s the focus — and at the end of the day, help the team win. Where I’m at in my career, it’s a little different, too.
“When you’re a young player, you want to be able to have individual success so that you can prove that you belong in the league and stuff like that. Where I’m at in my career now, I want to win games and have a chance at a Super Bowl. But, at the end of day, you do your job and you try to do it to the best of your ability.”
Thielen signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Panthers in March. The veteran wideout had previously been released by the Minnesota Vikings. Thielen played for Minnesota from 2013 to 2022. He was originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota State.
Thielen leads the Panthers in catches and receiving yards on the season. He is also the only Panthers wide receiver to play offensive snaps in every game during the campaign.
This story was originally published December 31, 2023 at 3:34 PM.
