Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton popped up on the practice report Wednesday with an ankle injury. Dalton, though, was a full participant.
Dalton made his first start since Week 3 of last season, leading the Panthers to their first win of the season Sunday. He completed 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-22 win over the Raiders.
The Panthers practiced without five players Wednesday.
Defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson (knee) and Shy Tuttle (foot) joined right guard Damien Lewis (elbow) and core special teams player Lonnie Johnson (hip) in rehab. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney had a rest day.
Running back Chuba Hubbard was limited in a load-management day after 169 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the Raiders.
Safety Nick Scott (quad) also was limited.
After reports emerged earlier on Tuesday, the Panthers made it official in the afternoon, announcing that receiver Adam Thielen has been placed on injured reserve.
Thielen suffered a hamstring injury while catching a 31-yard touchdown pass late in the first half of Sunday’s victory over the Raiders.
Carolina also placed safety Jordan Fuller on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Thielen and Fuller will be out for at least the next four weeks.
Additionally, the Panthers waived tight end Messiah Swinson. He was signed off the Packers practice squad but did not appear in a game.
As corresponding moves, the Panthers signed receiver Jalen Coker, safety Demani Richardson, and safety Russ Yeast to the 53-man roster.
Finally, Carolina signed safety Alex Cook and cornerback Justin Hardy to the practice squad, releasing outside linebacker Eku Leota from the practice squad.
The Panthers will be without one of their key offensive players for at least four weeks.
Carolina is placing Adam Thielen on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s victory over the Raiders, according to multiple reports.
Thielen sustained the injury while catching a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. He was not able to return to the contest.
But Thielen is expected to return to the field at some point in 2024.
Thorugh three games this season, Thielen has eight receptions for 109 yards with one touchdown. He caught three passes for 40 yards in the first half on Sunday.
Per Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers will sign receiver Jalen Coker off their practice squad to the 53-man roster as a corresponding move. Coker signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in the spring.
After falling to 0-3 on Monday night, the Bengals will also have to deal with a significant loss along their offensive line.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Trent Brown has suffered a torn patellar tendon and is out for the rest of the 2024 season.
Brown, 31, joined the Bengals in March and had started each of the first three games. He went down with the knee injury during the second quarter of Monday’s eventual loss to the Commanders.
Amarius Mims, Cincinnati’s first-round pick in 2024, came in to replace Brown last night and is poised to keep the position going forward.
Brown has appeared in 103 games with 96 starts for the 49ers, Patriots, Raiders, and Bengals since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.
There wasn’t much suspense about who will be starting at quarterback for the Panthers in Week Four, but head coach Dave Canales made an announcement at his Monday press conference anyway.
Andy Dalton was 26-of-37 for 319 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s 36-22 win over the Raiders in Las Vegas. That was a huge leap up from what the Panthers did on offense with Bryce Young running the offense in back-to-back losses to open the season, so Canales isn’t going to be making any changes.
“Andy’s our quarterback. He gives us the best chance to win,” Canales said. “That’s the approach as we get ready for the Bengals.”
Dalton spent his first nine seasons with the Bengals and it looked like his time as a full-time starter might have ended when that term did, but injuries opened the door to extended runs in Dallas and New Orleans before he joined the Panthers. As long as Dalton stays healthy, it looks like he’ll be back in the saddle for a while.
