Tag: Ian Thomas

Panthers reportedly restructuring TE Ian Thomas’ contract

The legend of Ian Thomas may be living on in Carolina.

The legend of Ian Thomas will live on.

According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the Carolina Panthers are restructuring Thomas’ contract—a move that will keep the 27-year-old tight end on the roster moving forward. 2024 would mark his seventh season with the organization.

Thomas, an Indiana University product, was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. He’s appeared in 94 of a possible 99 games since—having amassed 116 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns.

Carolina re-signed Thomas on a three-year, $16.9 million deal in February of 2022. As he did in the second season of that pact in 2023, Thomas will likely be taking a pay cut to stick around for the 2024 campaign.

If he does indeed last into the season, Thomas will have played under four different full-time head coaches in Carolina (Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule, Frank Reich and Dave Canales).

The Panthers, additionally, are expected to part ways with a number of fellow veterans including tight end Hayden Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman and cornerback Donte Jackson.

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Potential 2024 offseason cuts and cap casualties for the Panthers

Who could be on the chopping block for the Panthers this offseason?

The Carolina Panthers aren’t exactly strapped for cash heading into free agency, but they aren’t exactly loaded with it either. So, how can they inch closer to the latter situation?

Here are four potential cap casualties for this offseason:

Hayden Hurst, 2 other TEs limited in practice on Thursday

Panthers TEs Hayden Hurst, Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan remained limited in practice on Thursday.

The Carolina Panthers remained limited at the tight end position on Thursday.

Today’s injury report ahead of Week 14’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints listed three tight ends as limited participants—Tommy Tremble (hip), Stephen Sullivan (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (concussion).

Hurst’s father Jerry tweeted on Wednesday that his son had been diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia by an independent neurologist. The 30-year-old pass catcher, who missed the last three games, then posted this morning that his “pretty nasty” concussion is not a career-ending injury.

Here is Thursday’s report in full:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
CB Troy Hill Rest/ankle DNP Limited
OT Taylor Moton Rest/knee DNP Limited
WR Adam Thielen Rest DNP
DT DeShawn Williams Knee DNP DNP
S Vonn Bell Shoulder Limited Limited
C Bradley Bozeman Ankle Limited Limited
S Jeremy Chinn Quadriceps Limited Limited
OLB Yetur Gross-Matos Hamstring Limited Limited
OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. Back Limited Limited
CB Jaycee Horn Hamstring Limited Limited
TE Hayden Hurst Concussion Limited Limited
TE Stephen Sullivan Shoulder Limited Limited
TE Tommy Tremble Hip Limited Limited
OLB Amaré Barno Ankle Full Full
OLB DJ Johnson Personal DNP

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Panthers Week 11 inactives: Terrace Marshall Jr. a healthy scratch vs. Cowboys

Panthers WR Terrace Marshal Jr. is a healthy scratch for the Week 11 clash with the Cowboys.

Well, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich won’t have to worry about forgetting Terrace Marshall Jr. this week.

The third-year wide receiver is a healthy scratch for Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Marshall Jr., who was reportedly granted permission to seek a trade earlier this season, has recorded 18 catches for 134 yards in eight games.

Carolina’s offense will also be without tight end Hayden Hurst, who is currently in concussion protocol. Fellow tight end Ian Thomas should, however, provide some depth—as he was officially activated from injured reserve on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthersm additionally, won’t have cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (hamstring) and CJ Henderson (concussion) nor outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. (back)—all of whom were ruled out on Friday.

Here is the full group of inactives for the team in Week 11:

  • OLB Marquis Haynes Sr.
  • CB CJ Henderson
  • TE Hayden Hurst
  • G Nash Jensen
  • OT Ricky Lee
  • WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

And here’s who’s down for Dallas:

  • CB Noah Igbinoghene
  • QB Trey Lance (emergency third QB)
  • OT Asim Richards
  • CB Eric Scott
  • RB Deuce Vaughn

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Panthers roster heading into Week 11 vs. Cowboys

TE Ian Thomas is back in the fold for the Panthers ahead of their Week 11 clash with the Cowboys.

The Carolina Panthers made two additions to their roster before Sunday’s clash against the Dallas Cowboys, as they activated tight end Ian Thomas from injured reserve and elevated wide receiver Mike Strachan from their practice squad.

Here’s what the team looks like heading into Sunday:

Panthers activate Ian Thomas from IR, elevate WR Mike Strachan for Week 11

The Panthers have activated TE Ian Thomas from IR and elevated WR Mike Strachan from the practice squad ahead of their Week 11 matchup.

The Carolina Panthers won’t have tight end Hayden Hurst against the Dallas Cowboys tomorrow, but they will be getting back some help at the position.

As announced on Saturday afternoon, the team has activated Ian Thomas from injured reserve. The sixth-year tight end, who missed the last four games due to a calf strain, was designated to return from the shelf earlier this week.

Thomas will now rejoin the depth chart alongside Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan. He has recorded two receptions for 36 yards over four targets this season.

Carolina also elevated wide receiver Mike Strachan from their practice squad for the Week 11 matchup. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound pass catcher reeled in a 45-yard reception in the Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears.

In addition to Hurst, who is currently in concussion protocol, the Panthers have already ruled out outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr. (back) and cornerbacks CJ Henderson (concussion) and Jaycee Horn (hamstring).

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Panthers designate Jaycee Horn, Ian Thomas to return from IR

Panthers CB Jaycee Horn and TE Ian Thomas have been designated to return from injured reserve.

The Carolina Panthers defense is getting closer to its original form.

As announced by the team on Monday afternoon, cornerback Jaycee Horn has been designated to return from injured reserve. The third-year defensive back has been sidelined since Week 1 due to a hamstring injury.

Horn went down in the first half of the regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. After being placed on IR with what head coach Frank Reich described as a “serious” issue, the 23-year-old underwent a procedure on the injury.

This was the third substantial setback of the former eighth overall pick’s young career, one that was also slowed by a broken foot during his rookie campaign and a broken wrist last season. Horn has missed 25 of a possible 42 games since being drafted in 2021.

Carolina also designated a return for tight end Ian Thomas. The sixth-year pass catcher went on the shelf prior to the team’s Week 6 loss to the Miami Dolphins with a calf injury.

Horn and Thomas now have 21 days to be moved back to the active roster. Both are eligible to play as soon as Sunday, when the Panthers welcome in the Dallas Cowboys for their Week 11 matchup.

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Panthers place Ian Thomas on IR

The Panthers have placed TE Ian Thomas (calf) on injured reserve.

The Carolina Panthers will be down yet another player for their daunting Week 6 trip to see the Miami Dolphins.

As announced by the team on Saturday afternoon, tight end Ian Thomas has been placed on injured reserve. Thomas, who popped up on yesterday’s injury report with a calf issue, will now be sidelined for at least the next four weeks.

Thomas is currently in his sixth season with the Panthers. A 2018 fourth-round selection, who was signed to a three-year, $16.95 million extension last winter, has caught 113 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns over 87 career games.

The 27-year-old has played in all five outings with a pair of starts for Carolina in 2023. He’s reeled in two catches for 36 yards on four targets.

Taking his place on the active roster will be fellow tight end Stephen Sullivan, who began the season on injured reserve due to a hip injury. He was designated to return from the shelf back on Oct. 4 and practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday.

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Panthers fans react to Bryce Young’s awful INT to Aidan Hutchinson

The Panthers got off to a very, very rough start on Sunday—as QB Bryce Young was picked off by DE Aidan Hutchinson.

Well, things aren’t looking much simpler for Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers offense so far on Sunday.

On the team’s second possession of their Week 5 outing, Young was picked off by Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson on . . . a screen pass to tight end Ian Thomas. Predictably enough, Panthers fans were not too happy about another failed screen to, well, one of their least potent offensive weapons.

Here are some of their reactions . . .

Thomas Brown talks about lack of production from Panthers TEs

OC Thomas Brown on lack of production from Panthers TEs: It’s not just about touches and catches

2023 really seemed like the year where the Carolina Panthers would finally see some numbers from the tight end position. Their new head coach was considered quite tight end-friendly, their new offensive coordinator was a tight ends coach under Sean McVay and they signed a solid pass catcher in Hayden Hurst.

But, uh, the stats still aren’t there.

Through four games, Panthers tight ends have combined for 104 yards and one touchdown on 13 receptions. So, that new offensive coordinator was asked about the lack of production on Thursday.

“Well, I think one thing when you talk about the tight end group is when you understand the position,” Thomas Brown said prior to this afternoon’s practice. “And having had a chance to coach that before I came here in L.A.—that’s a spot that kinda has a lot of involvement with the offense. I think when you talk about overall success, it’s not just about touches and catches. What they do in the run game and protection game is a big part of overall success.”

Carolina’s group of Hurst, Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Giovanni Ricci has not been tasked with much from a receiving standpoint—having been targeted a total of 20 times thus far. They haven’t been particularly awesome in the run game or in the protection game either, as none currently have a top-20 grade from Pro Football Focus in run- or pass-blocking.

Regardless, there are 13 games to go and plenty to figure out—and it’s not just the tight ends who need to step it up.

“And I won’t just holler at that group and say there needs to be more production,” Brown added. “We need more production overall, from everybody. It’s not just that one group in particular.”

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