Panthers' Thielen to return for 12th season after pondering retirement

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen confirmed Thursday that he intends to return for a 12th season this fall after contemplating his NFL future.

Thielen raised eyebrows last week when he said he thought he had some football left in him but would "see how that plays out in the next few weeks," according to The Daily Mail's Ben Nagale.

The two-time Pro Bowler didn't expect to make headlines but admitted Thursday that he believed he had played his final game immediately after the Panthers' season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

"I had said after the season, like I just need two weeks to really think about it," Thielen said, according to team reporter Darin Gantt. "And then once I make that decision I'm like, I'm going to do one more year. Then that's my mindset, and here we go. I didn't want to be wishy-washy, like maybe, maybe not."

Thielen explained that a serious hamstring injury sustained in Week 3, which sidelined him for seven weeks and forced a grueling rehab process, led to his exhaustion in 2024. However, the veteran wideout said he's in a much happier place now.

He pointed to quarterback Bryce Young's progression and the culture head coach Dave Canales has cultivated as significant factors in his desire to return next season.

"I would say that was 95% of the reason for wanting to play again," he said. "Because when you're part of something - I always said the reason I came to Carolina in the first place was I wanted to be part of building something."

The two-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $25-million contract with the Panthers in 2023 after spending the first nine years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

Thielen led the Panthers with 615 yards and five touchdowns despite missing seven games. The 34-year-old is a season removed from posting 103 catches for 1,014 yards and four scores.