The Panthers place Adam Thielen on IR due to a serious hamstring injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Carolina Panthers placed Adam Thielen on injured reserve on Tuesday with a serious hamstring injury, meaning the 34-year-old wide receiver will miss at least the next four games.

Safety Jordan Fuller, who has started all three games this season, also was placed on injured reserve because of a groin injury he suffered on Sunday.

Thielen suffered the injury on a 31-yard touchdown catch by quarterback Andy Dalton with 44 seconds left in the first half of the Panthers’ 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

It was Dalton’s first game after replacing Bryce Young, the top pick in the 2023 draft, and the first win for first-year head coach Dave Canales.

Carolina signed Thielen to a three-year, $25 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. He led the team with 103 receptions for 1,014 yards in his first season after leaving the Minnesota Vikings. In the first three games this season, he had eight catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Thielen’s absence means 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, who has eight catches for 77 yards, and 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo, who has six receptions for 59 yards, for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals will move up the depth chart (0-3) at Bank of America Stadium.

Fuller, who has 15 tackles this season, came to Carolina from the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason. He is expected to be replaced by veteran Nick Scott.

In other moves, the Panthers waived tight end Messiah Swinson and promoted undrafted wide receiver Jalen Coker and safeties Demani Richardson and Russ Yeast from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.