Team news: Carolina Panthers | Page 3

Homecoming: Panthers and Vikings are finalizing a trade for WR Adam Thielen to return to Minnesota, sources tell ESPN.

The trade: Vikings get Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Panthers get a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Thielen starred for the Vikings from 2013-2022. Now he returns.

Related Players: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker

This is a good move to ease J.J. McCarthy into the league with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games. Thielen is heading into his age-35 (!!) season and doesn't offer nearly the run-after-catch ability as he did in his heyday, but he can operate as a consistent option for the young QB. He's unlikely to hit double-digit targets as he did a couple times last year with JJ and T.J. Hockenson around, but he could be playable for desperate deep-league managers.

Back in Carolina, this helps clear the runway for Jalen Coker to operate as the Panthers' primary slot option after a pretty impressive rookie season for a UDFA. He's an interesting stash.

Vikings and Panthers have tried to work out a trade for Carolina WR Adam Thielen.

Related players: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor

Schefter's post said Thielen would like to return to Minnesota, but the two sides continue to struggle to agree on compensation. The Vikings could use help at WR with Addison suspended. Thielen would likely be the team's WR3 when at full strength in a couple of weeks, probably pushing Nailor down the depth chart. In Carolina, Thielen could be considered the team's WR2, but if he departs Legette likely takes that role behind McMillan with Coker moving up to the team's WR3 role. Whatever the hurdles seem to be, one would think this deal gets done at some point.

The Eagles acquired WR John Metchie from the Texans in exchange for TE Harrison Bryant. The teams are also swapping day three picks in 2026.

The Texans were looking for a tight end after Brevin Jordan suffered a season-ending knee injury last week and Metchie was starting to become buried on the depth chart in Houston. For the Eagles, Metchie will compete with the likes of Jahan Dotson, Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith for roles behind the top two of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

The ball skills that made Jahan Dotson a 2022 first-round pick by the Washington Commanders are showing up more in his first full training camp in Philly. Among the signs, Dotson hauled in a contested catch on Tuesday against rookie cornerback Mac McWilliams along the right sideline. There’s a growing sense that Dotson could contribute more than the 19 catches for 216 yards that he fielded on short notice last season.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in Jahan,” Eagles wide receiver coach Aaron Moorehead said. “We really liked him coming out (of the draft) and was super excited when Howie traded for him last year and just thought that he adds a great dimension to the offense as a third guy."

Related players: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, Terrace Marshall, Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert

There isn't much behind Brown and Smith, of course besides Barkley, as a pass-catching threat. Goedert has been good at times, but is 30-years-old, and the Eagles haven't traditionally got a lot from their WR3 over the years. So, it's certainly possible Dotson has a bigger role, especially of Goedert starts to show some age at the TE position. Dotson isn't getting drafted in most leagues so he should be around very late in drafts if you want to take a chance.

The arrival of No. 8 pick Tetairoa McMillan should take some pressure off Xavier Legette, whom the Panthers traded up to take at No. 32 in 2024. It’s not like Legette was a total bust: The 6-foot-3, 227-pounder caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns. But as Bryce Young develops and McMillan draws coverage his way, Legette’s production should increase this season. — Joseph Person

Legette shouldn't be a highly-sought pick in upcoming drafts this summer, so maybe he's worth taking a shot on toward the end of your draft. The story added Legette wasn’t a full-time starter until his fifth season at South Carolina. So there were naturally growing pains for Legette, whose eight drops — including one on Young’s potential game-winning touchdown pass at Philadelphia — put him among the leaders in that category, the story pointed out.

While there has been speculation about his future in Atlanta, Falcons TE Kyle Pitts hasn’t been practicing at OTAs due to a strained muscle in his foot.

Related Players: Charlie Woerner, Teagan Quitoriano, Feleipe Franks

If Pitts does end up leaving Atlanta this summer, it's worth pointing out that the TE depth chart behind him is incredibly thin, which would likely mean an even higher WR target share in 2025. Teams potentially vying for a trade include the Cowboys, Jaguars, and Chargers, among others.

Panthers placed RB Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he now will be out for the 2025 season.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne

With the additions of Dowdle and Etienne (fourth round), this was a distinct possibility, and now the move has been made quite early in the post-Draft season. Brooks will be a tough gamble for 2026, but here's hoping for a full recovery for the young back.

The Panthers have agreed to a 1-year deal with RB Rico Dowdle, per league source.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard

Carolina recently released Miles Sanders, so Dowdle should operate as an upgrade over the veteran. This is a much bigger hit to Hubbard's fantasy ceiling than Sanders functioned as last season, but it's not the best spot for Dowdle's fantasy aspirations, either.

If there are no more additions to the backfield, we should consider Hubbard a low-end RB2 and Dowdle a fringe RB3/4.

The Panthers are placing running back Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee) on injured reserve.

With only two weeks left in the season, this obviously ends Hubbard’s season. At 4-11, the Panthers are looking ahead to next season and protecting their big-money running back. Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones are next up on the depth chart. Jonathan Brooks also landed on injured reserve a few weeks ago after re-tearing his ACL in Week 14 against the Eagles.

Panthers WR Xavier Legette will be week to week the rest of the season with a groin injury.

Coach Dave Canales said Legette is likely to be out this week, and the week to week tag for the rest of the season doesn't really bode well for him or his fantasy owners. Legette hasn't been a solid fantasy play anyway but for those using him in deeper leagues you may be without him for the rest of this year.