Panthers WR Adam Thielen expected to play vs. Falcons, Brian Burns traveling with team to Atlanta

Expect Adam Thielen to suit up Sunday and play in the Panthers season opener against the Falcons. That should be welcome news for rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe confirmed the news, via an unnamed source. Thielen, who this time a year ago was with the Vikings, has been dealing with an ankle sprain.

In addition, edge rusher Brian Burns is with the team in Atlanta. He’d been missing some workouts the past week as his contract dispute continues with Panthers management.

Panthers WR Adam Thielen is expected to play tomorrow vs. Falcons despite ankle injury, per sources.

Carolina star pass rusher Brian Burns is also making the trip with team to Atlanta for Sunday’s game amid lingering contract dispute, per source.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 9, 2023

The NFL Network report doesn’t mention receiver D.J. Chark. He’s been struggling with a strained hamstring. Although he went through some drills Friday, he’s been ruled out for Sunday’s game.

Chark strained his hamstring injury, Aug. 22, roughly a week before the Panthers shut down training camp. At the time, most thought he’d be ready for the season opener. But hamstrings are finicky and have their own timetables for healing. Chark faced injury issues last fall when he played for the Lions. He missed six games due to a bad ankle.

Meanwhile, Thielen was a reliable receiver for the Vikings and quarterback Kirk Cousins last year. He caught 70 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns. Both Chark and Thielen were supposed to be go-to receivers for Young, the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft.

Burns has been doing a sit in of sorts to force the Panthers to re-do his contract. His sit in never reached the same coverage as the sit out of the 49ers Nick Bosa or the Chiefs Chris Jones. Bosa ended his hold out earlier this week after agreeing to a gigantic contract with San Fran. Jones still hasn’t agreed to a deal, but he was watching the Chiefs season opener from a suite at Arrowhead Stadium.

But Burns does want more money, especially coming off a career year. The Panthers selected the former Florida State star with the16th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. This is the final year of his rookie contract. If nothing changes, Burns will earn $16 million this season. That salary ranks him as the 12th-highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL. He posted 12.5 sacks in 2022. And he’s earned spots in the past two Pro Bowls.

More details to come.