Panthers WR Adam Thielen focused on health as 2024 NFL trade deadline inches closer
Adam Thielen has been in the NFL for 11 years. He knows what the annual NFL trade deadline can do to a locker room and the players inside of it.
But the 34-year-old wide receiver, who has been sidelined on injured reserve for six weeks, isn’t sweating a possible relocation. He’s more concerned with healing an ailing hamstring that has cost him six games in his second campaign with the Panthers.
Thielen signed a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers last year. While a trade could help the Panthers plan for the future, acquire a draft pick, and quite possibly save some money, Thielen isn’t thinking about swapping in uniforms with Tuesday’s 4 p.m. cutoff looming.
“For me, I handle my business one day at a time,” Thielen said Monday. “That’s why you have an agent, and you have a GM, right? That’s for them to figure out. I don’t have a no-trade clause, so they can do whatever they want.”
While Thielen is getting up there in age, and the Panthers are clearly rebuilding, the veteran playmaker says he’s appreciative of his current setup. He produced a 100-catch, 1,000-yard season last year. And in just three games earlier this season, Thielen collected eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.
He’s also helped mentor young receivers like rookies, Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, and last year’s second-round pick Jonathan Mingo.
“At the end of the day, I love this team, I love the guys in this locker room, and I’m going to show up every day — no matter what happens — with a smile on my face and try to be the best leader, best competitor, best player,” Thielen said. “I still feel like I’ve got a lot to give to this game. Obviously, gotta get back on the field to do that, but excited to get back out there and show what I can do.”
Thielen said he feels like the team wants to keep him, despite rumors linking him to potential trade deals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have interest in the wide receiver.
General manager Dan Morgan previously made a trade with the Steelers in March, acquiring wide receiver Diontae Johnson — who was traded last week to the Baltimore Ravens — and a 2024 seventh-round pick for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Morgan and executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis have been tasked with scouring the trade market to find potential trade deals before the market closes for good until March 2025. While the Johnson trade with the Ravens left a lot to be desired, there still could be another opportunity to be had as the clock ticks down to the deadline.
Head coach Dave Canales, though, is focused on the Panthers’ trip to Munich, Germany, to face the New York Giants on Sunday.
“I’m going to let Dan and Brandt just kind of look at whatever opportunities might be out there,” Canales said. “And for me, I’m just going to focus with the staff on getting ready to play the Giants in Germany and have a successful trip that way.”
Regarding the rumors that Thielen, and potentially other contributors, could be swapped on Tuesday before the market closes, Canales is keeping his thoughts to himself. Or, at least within the walls of Bank of America Stadium.
“I’m going to keep all of those conversations between us,” Canales said. “I’m honestly letting Dan and Brandt handle those things. And I’m just going to focus on the football right here, and when they need to get me involved with decisions, they will.”
