Breaking down Carolina Panthers roster after Adam Thielen, Hunter Renfrow exits
By Alex Zietlow and
Mike Kaye
Adam Thielen is gone. So is Hunter Renfrow.
And ... two-fifths of the starting offensive line might not suit up Week 1?
The world of the Carolina Panthers this week has been nothing short of chaotic, and Observer beat writers Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow are here to break down everything you need to know before the team charges into NFL Week 1 next weekend.
The two discuss who in their estimation “won” the Thielen trade — as well as who from the Panthers could step up in Thielen’s stead — after the 35-year-old veteran receiver was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.
They also hypothesize why Renfrow was cut, wonder aloud how starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu’s appendectomy will impact the team and just generally muse about the Panthers’ newly assembled 53-man roster — waiver-wire additions and all.
Listen to the latest episode at the embed in this story, or download it on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out the show on YouTube.
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
Alex Zietlow writes about the Carolina Panthers and the ways in which sports intersect with life for The Charlotte Observer, where he has been a reporter since August 2022. Zietlow’s work has been honored by the Pro Football Writers Association, the N.C. and S.C. Press Associations, as well as the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) group. He’s earned six APSE Top 10 distinctions for his coverage on a variety of topics, from billion-dollar stadium renovations to the small moments of triumph that helped a Panthers kicker defy the steepest odds in sports. Zietlow previously wrote for The Herald in Rock Hill (S.C.) from 2019-22.Support my work with a digital subscription
Mike Kaye writes about the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer. He also co-hosts “Processing Blue: A Panthers Podcast” for The Observer. Kaye’s work in columns/analysis and sports feature writing has been honored by the North Carolina Press Association (NCPA). His reporting has also received recognition from the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).Kaye previously covered the entire NFL for Pro Football Network, the Philadelphia Eagles for NJ Advance Media and the Jacksonville Jaguars for First Coast News. Support my work with a digital subscription
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