4 promising signs for the Panthers at Packers in Week 15
By Dean Jones
Ian Thomas’ involvement
It has been a difficult season for Ian Thomas. The tight end was looking to step up and fill the void left by prolific veteran Greg Olsen following his decision to sign for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. But there have been some signs of life in recent weeks.
This was once again evident at the Packers. Thomas appeared far more involved than usual – 72 percent of the offensive snaps to be precise – and there was a lot to like about the way he applied himself during the close defeat.
The former Indiana standout was targeted four times for the second straight week, bringing in three receptions for 29 receiving yards. This might not seem like much in the grand scheme of things. But considering how little the Carolina Panthers have utilized Thomas so far this season, it’s a definite step forward.
Hopefully, this is a trend that continues over the next two games.
The Panthers aren’t playing for anything other than pride and it represents an opportunity to get Thomas more involved and see just where he fits in Joe Brady’s scheme with so many dynamic playmakers around him.
Carolina will probably look to strengthen their options at the position either during free agency of the 2021 NFL Draft. This puts the pressure squarely on Thomas over the next couple of weeks to prove that he is worthy of keeping around.