Adam Thielen opens up about personal growth during Panthers' two-win season

Finishing last among the league’s 32 teams last season, the Carolina Panthers’ year turned out not at all how they’d hoped when they hired Frank Reich and drafted Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite notching a 2-15 record in their first two-win season since 2010, the team has hope for brighter days under new head coach Dave Canales. Even with the terrible year on the field, Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen believes the struggles allowed him to have his “biggest” personal growth year since entering the league.

After years of consistency with the Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins, Thielen found himself in uncharted territory but managed to look at the positives.

“It was probably the biggest growth I’ve ever had as a person, as a player, ever in my life just because I had to be the person that I say I am day in and day out,” Thielen said on KFAN this week. “I had to kind of check myself at the door every single day because things weren’t easy, things weren’t going smooth.”

Though the team struggled to reach the endzone, Thielen was one of the offense’s most reliable weapons. He had 103 catches, breaking 100 receptions for only the second time in his career, and posted 1,014 receiving yards. He now has three 1,000-yard seasons in 10 years in the league. He has two more years with Carolina as he’s playing on a three-year deal for $25 million.

Thielen praises Young for his maturity

Like Thielen, Bryce Young also experienced substantial growth despite the team’s poor record. The veteran watched as the rookie matured, embracing his role as a leader despite his age.

“I think what he really showed is his maturity over the year,” Thielen said earlier this offseason. “I think his ability at times to just be very honest in front of the room and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’m not doing very well and this is what I need to get better at and please hold me accountable,’ I thought was really impressive for a young guy.

“His maturity level over the season was really cool to see. And his ability to handle adversity. I don’t know how much adversity Bryce has had over his football career, and to handle the amount of adversity he did, to show up every week, week in, week out, put his head down and work, try to lead to the best of his ability was really impressive, and what makes me excited about Year 2 with him.”

Thielen, Young, Canales and the rest of the Panthers hit the field in Charlotte next month for training camp. Report date for veterans is July 23, with rookies checking in on July 19.