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There was only one inevitable outcome when the Minnesota Vikings came calling about the prospect of trading for wide receiver Adam Thielen. But the Carolina Panthers’ embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars brought this move into a haunting new reality.
<!–qv q:id=5n q:key=vcaa:The Panthers were expected to be highly competitive against Jacksonville on the road. Dave Canales proudly proclaimed his squad was right on the cusp of something special, but his players couldn't match this big talk when it came to the crunch.
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The Panthers were expected to be highly competitive against Jacksonville on the road. Dave Canales proudly proclaimed his squad was right on the cusp of something special, but his players couldn’t match this big talk when it came to the crunch.
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It was a complete capitulation where nothing went right. Carolina's defensive frailties were there for all to see. But the offense looked disjointed and lacked polish in the face of a vulnerable Jaguars secondary.
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It was a complete capitulation where nothing went right. Carolina’s defensive frailties were there for all to see. But the offense looked disjointed and lacked polish in the face of a vulnerable Jaguars secondary.
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Carolina Panthers missed Adam Thielen greatly in Week 1 capitulation
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Carolina Panthers missed Adam Thielen greatly in Week 1 capitulation
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Bryce Young was sloppy. The quarterback flashed moments of promise, especially when connecting with rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, but nobody else met their end of the bargain. Xavier Legette's mental lapses were evident once again. Hunter Renfrow didn't look sharp after missing so much football last season. Nobody else stepped up.
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Bryce Young was sloppy. The quarterback flashed moments of promise, especially when connecting with rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, but nobody else met their end of the bargain. Xavier Legette’s mental lapses were evident once again. Hunter Renfrow didn’t look sharp after missing so much football last season. Nobody else stepped up.
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Young didn't have his primary security blanket over the short to intermediate areas of the field to depend upon. His renaissance over the second half of 2024 coincided with Thielen's return from injury. The pair developed strong chemistry on and off the field. That sort of thing is incredibly difficult to replace.
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Young didn’t have his primary security blanket over the short to intermediate areas of the field to depend upon. His renaissance over the second half of 2024 coincided with Thielen’s return from injury. The pair developed strong chemistry on and off the field. That sort of thing is incredibly difficult to replace.
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The Panthers held out for what they believed was an acceptable offer from the Vikings. Thielen wanted to rejoin his boyhood club and finish his career where it began. But Jalen Coker going to injured reserve the day after his trade was confirmed represented a body blow.
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The Panthers held out for what they believed was an acceptable offer from the Vikings. Thielen wanted to rejoin his boyhood club and finish his career where it began. But Jalen Coker going to injured reserve the day after his trade was confirmed represented a body blow.
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Carolina's wideout room was considered an area of strength just a few short weeks ago. It's now in danger of becoming a weak link, which will come with severe ramifications attached.
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Carolina’s wideout room was considered an area of strength just a few short weeks ago. It’s now in danger of becoming a weak link, which will come with severe ramifications attached.
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As stated before the trade, the benefits to keeping Thielen around during a critical campaign for Young far outweighed the negatives. But doing right by the player, who was willing to take a pay cut to rubber-stamp the transaction, is also something that Morgan took into account.
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As stated before the trade, the benefits to keeping Thielen around during a critical campaign for Young far outweighed the negatives. But doing right by the player, who was willing to take a pay cut to rubber-stamp the transaction, is also something that Morgan took into account.
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Thielen got his wish, and he'll now go from helping Young to assisting J.J. McCarthy through his pivotal transition. Coker is going to be missing for the next three games, if not more, so the likes of Legette and Renfrow must step up their respective contributions and make sure his departure doesn't become more detrimental to the team's chances than anyone thought possible.
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Thielen got his wish, and he’ll now go from helping Young to assisting J.J. McCarthy through his pivotal transition. Coker is going to be missing for the next three games, if not more, so the likes of Legette and Renfrow must step up their respective contributions and make sure his departure doesn’t become more detrimental to the team’s chances than anyone thought possible.
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Removing Young's most prolific and consistent weapon was a major risk. And it doesn't look like paying off if Week 1 was any indication.
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Removing Young’s most prolific and consistent weapon was a major risk. And it doesn’t look like paying off if Week 1 was any indication.
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More Carolina Panthers news and analysis
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