Analysis

Thielen cashed in one of Bryce Young's two touchdown strikes Sunday, bringing the receiver's season line up to 38-461-3 in eight starts. The 33-year-old Thielen has been particularly lethal since returning from injured reserve in Week 12, averaging 6.0 receptions and 70.4 yards with two of his three TDs coming over that five-game span. Those numbers are good enough for starting consideration in Week 17 against Tampa Bay in virtually any format.

Analysis

The Panthers couldn't get their passing attack on track, with the only explosive play being an 83-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker. Thus, despite leading the team in targets and receptions, Thielen turned in a modest performance. Positively, he should remain Bryce Young's top target, though the overall state of the Carolina offense may lead to inconsistent results.

Analysis

It's the first time this season that Thielen has topped 100 yards, with his last such performance coming in Week 6 of the 2023 campaign. The veteran wideout has posted a 20-258-1 line on 25 targets over three games since returning from a hamstring injury, giving him significant momentum heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.

Analysis

Thielen led the team in targets and posted his highest yardage total since Week 6 of the 2023 season. His longest catch came on a 25-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the game for what appeared to be the game-winning score. He also chipped in a pair of 16-yard grabs and narrowly missed another touchdown grab just before halftime when he was ruled out of bounds on a controversial call. While the Panthers will likely try to get Xavier Legette and some of their other younger pass catchers involved down the stretch, Thielen has quickly become a favorite target of Bryce Young in two games since returning from a hamstring injury.

Analysis

Thielen was active for the first time since Week 3 after recovering from a hamstring injury. He finished fourth on the team in targets but made an immediate impact on the Carolina offense by accounting for the unit's longest play from scrimmage on a 36-yard catch late in the first quarter. Thielen also chipped in with a 13-yard reception on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to set up a game-tying touchdown. While the Panthers will be invested in getting targets to Xavier Legette and other younger skill position players down the stretch, Thielen should have a steady role among the receiver corps.

Analysis

Though he was activated from injured reserve during the Panthers' Week 11 bye, Thielen had still been listed as questionable heading into Sunday after logging a trio of limited practices this week. The Panthers were ultimately satisfied enough with the veteran wideout's health to clear him to play for the first time since Week 3, and he could immediately settle into a high-volume role in the passing attack. Since Thielen last played, the Panthers have traded away No. 1 wideout Diontae Johnson to the Ravens, and Carolina will also be down another key pass catcher Sunday in undrafted rookie receiver Jalen Coker (quadricep), who played 90 percent of the offensive snaps in a Week 10 win over the Giants.

Analysis

Thielen's active status should be confirmed 90 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff. He never quite made it back to full practice participation, instead logging limited sessions each day this week. The exact nature of his role remains in question, as Jalen Coker (quadriceps) has done solid work from the slot in recent weeks but now is listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice. While the Panthers may be inclined to move Coker to the perimeter anyway to free up slot work for Thielen, it's fair to say Thielen's Week 12 volume projection improves if he's active and Coker isn't.

Analysis

Thielen's reps have been capped in both of Carolina's first two official practices of Week 12 coming out of a bye week, but the wideout has previously indicated that he expects to play Sunday against the Chiefs. While Thielen's prediction could end up coming to pass, he'll still likely need to upgrade to full practice participation Friday to avoid taking a designation into the weekend. Thielen was activated from injured reserve over the Panthers' bye week after having missed the team's last seven games with a right hamstring injury.

Analysis

Previously limited to individual drills or side work, Thielen has now progressed to team drills after a Week 11 bye. He said Monday that he anticipates playing against the Chiefs this Sunday but will still need to see how he holds up in practice throughout the week. Thielen's upcoming return will cut into Jalen Coker's playing time unless the Panthers adjust by putting Coker on the perimeter and moving David Moore to the bench.