BREAKING: Adam Thielen Not retiring…

[WarPanthers89]

Per me:

Panthers veteran receiver Adam Thielen isn’t quite ready to hang it up.

Thielen said this week that after getting away for a couple of weeks, he’s planning to play in 2025.

“Yeah, I think I still have some more football in me,” Thielen said this week, via Ben Nagle of Daily Mail Sport. “We’ll see how that plays out in the next few weeks.”

Thielen, who turns 35 in August, is under contract for 2025 but on a non-guaranteed salary. That could potentially make him a candidate to be released, particularly if the Panthers give him a post-June 1 designation. That would give Carolina $6.3 million in savings under the cap.

But Thielen would like to be back with the Panthers in 2025, given how quarterback Bryce Young improved under first-year head coach Dave Canales.

“I think that’s what has enticed me to want to play again is just the progression, the leadership, the type of things that they’re doing to try to create a winning culture,” Thielen said. “I really believe in what they’re doing. So there’s a lot to look forward to, especially with Bryce and his progression. And then, you know, just being able to add some pieces and see what happens.”

Still, Thielen realizes he’s on the proverbial back nine of his career.

“I think there’s probably more times now that you’re like, ‘Alright, there’s probably not much more,’” Thielen said. “So you know there’s an end in sight, but when that exactly will be is kind of a year-to-year thing.”

Missing several games due to a hamstring injury, Thielen finished 2024 with 48 receptions for 615 yards with five touchdowns. He caught 103 passes for 1,014 yards with four TDs for the Panthers in 2023.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/adam-thielen-i-think-i-still-have-some-more-football-in-me

Edited January 31, 2025 by WarPanthers89

[LinvilleGorge]

Good.

[jfra78]

If Thielen wants to play the Panthers wont release him.  

[w280sax]

I wish we could make one run for him.  He was incredible at the end of last season...I'm not cutting him regardless of cap savings. 

[Manna]

He's already become one of my favorite Panthers of all time. 

[mrcompletely11]

“We’ll see how that plays out in the next few weeks.”

 

I wonder what he means by that?

[Seltzer]

3 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

“We’ll see how that plays out in the next few weeks.”

 

I wonder what he means by that?

If i has to guess, IMO the odds would be a restructure to his contract to free up cap, but this could just be athlete talk.

I think 100% he's playing & will be on the team this year.

I do expect there will be several restructures coming up (Moton definitely) to free up cap space.

I also think we will be at least as active in FA this year as last.

We still need a WR1, but if we can add one, having XL, Coker, and Theilen as WR2, WR3, and WR4 would constitute the best receiving corp I can remember since pre-Cam

[pantherclaw]

Love him. A great leader and a dawg.

[Seltzer]

29 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

If Thielen wants to play the Panthers wont release him.  

100%. If anything, he will restructure/extend for cap purposes 

[Seltzer]

Just now, pantherclaw said:

Love him. A great leader and a dawg.

Yep. He could have went really negative and demanded out after all the crap he's had to deal with here over the past 2 seasons.

The fact that he wants to be here and lead this team back to respond speaks volumes about him as a teammate and leader

[pantherclaw]

Just now, Seltzer said:

Yep. He could have went really negative and demanded out after all the crap he's had to deal with here over the past 2 seasons.

The fact that he wants to be here and lead this team back to respond speaks volumes about him as a teammate and leader

I felt the fact that he came to the Panthers when he did spoke volumes.  

A lot doubted his ability to still be a viable threat.

All he has done,  is come in here and outplay every other Panther receiver on the field. 

[NAS]

This is huge news, retaining him is almost like signing a new FA.   We need at least another year from him.

[jasonluckydog]

Give him a guaranteed 1 year deal 6 million with lots of incentives that could reach 10 million. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Adam is such a quality player, good to hear.