Panthers’ lengthy Week 8 injury report: Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson out vs. Broncos
The Carolina Panthers will likely be without three of their most important playmakers Sunday.
Friday afternoon the Panthers listed quarterback Andy Dalton as “doubtful” and receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson as “out” ahead of their Week 8 matchup with the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
That means that the Panthers will almost certainly be without their three most dangerous weapons in the pass game — including their starting quarterback in Dalton the past five weeks — as the 1-6 team charges into a matchup against the best defense it has faced all year.
Canales announced Wednesday that Dalton wouldn’t start as a result of a sprained thumb he sustained in a minor car accident in Charlotte on Tuesday. Second-year quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young is scheduled to play in his stead.
The offensive play-calling head coach went on to say Friday that Dalton was “a long shot” to be active for Sunday’s game. Third-string backup Jack Plummer, who took the bulk of preseason snaps but hasn’t played in a regular-season contest, is the planned No. 2 guy should something happen to Young during Sunday’s contest.
The Panthers’ offense has looked up and down with Dalton at the helm. The 36-year-old QB put on a show in his 2024 debut against the Las Vegas Raiders, but he hasn’t been able to reach those heights again. His stat line in his five starts: 989 yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 82.
Young hasn’t been much better in his limited time. In his two starts — before his benching after Week 2 — he finished with 245 passing yards and three interceptions. In his backup spots, he finished with 54 passing yards, including last week where he completed both of his passes for minus-two yards.
“The whole thing is that the guys that he’s going to be playing with on Sunday, practiced for him, did a great job,” Canales said of Young. “It was a really good week of practice in terms of the throwing, the catching, the rhythms and all of that. So, just trusting in the confidence of the preparation, the things that happen on the practice field, and then hoping that they show up on Sunday.”
Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen out
Johnson’s absence, of them all, is a bit surprising. The team’s top wide receiver indicated that he’d be good to play Sunday despite suffering an oblique injury last week that he played through against the Commanders. Johnson didn’t practice all week.
“We weren’t able to practice him this week, so I just thought it was best to let that all calm down,” Canales said. “The guys that took the reps during the week, we feel good about the execution and the way the guys handled it, so great opportunity for those guys. And the hope is just to revisit this next week and try to get him back to full speed.”
Canales was asked if keeping Johnson healthy was a priority because of a potential trade for him. The head coach veered away from those details Friday.
“Those are all conversations that (GM) Dan (Morgan) and (EVP) Brandt Tilis will handle,” Canales said. “For me, I want to do the best thing for Diontae, the best thing for the offense and the continuity that we’re trying to get done. And the fact that we couldn’t get him back onto the field this week, I felt confident about the guys being able to step in there and do it.”
As for Thielen, Canales indicated the veteran wideout is a week away as he returns from a hamstring injury that put him on the injured reserve list after Week 3.
Johnson and Thielen, when healthy, are the team’s two top receivers. Thielen through three weeks notched eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown — and that TD grab was the play that caused his injury. Johnson leads the team with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
These absences make it even more pivotal for the team’s young receivers — rookies Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette and second-year player Jonathan Mingo — to play well, even after a desultory performance last week, as pointed out by Canales earlier this week.
Full Panthers injury report prior to Denver Broncos game
OUT: WR Diontae Johnson (rib), S Jammie Robinson (knee), S Nick Scott (hamstring), WR Adam Thielen (hamstring), S Jordan Fuller (hamstring), OLB DJ Wonnum (quadriceps).
DOUBTFUL: QB Andy Dalton (right thumb), RB Jonathon Brooks (knee), CB Dane Jackson (hamstring).
QUESTIONABLE: LB Claudin Cherelus (hamstring), LB Josey Jewell (hamstring/groin), OT Taylor Moton (elbow), OT Yosh Nijman (knee), DL A’Shawn Robinson (knee), OLB Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder), DL Jaden Crumedy (ankle), S Sam Franklin (foot), TE Tommy Tremble (back).
Mike Kaye contributed to this report.
