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Adam Thielen calls added intensity, trash-talking at practice 'progress' for Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are evolving as a team, and Adam Thielen recognizes it
Jeremy Brener|
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen runs after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen runs after a catch against the Atlanta Falcons. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is entering his third season with the franchise after joining the team in 2023.

Thielen was expected to help bring Bryce Young into the fold as the team's starting quarterback, and he has been part of the culture change for the franchise.

Now that Thielen has been around for a little while, he is sensing a different intensity throughout the rest of the team.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is congratulated after he scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is congratulated after he scored a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

“I think it just talks about our team. We’re a bunch of guys that want it. I think guys are finally sick of being the same old, same old Carolina Panthers,” Thielen said via The Athletic insider Joseph Person.

“I think we want to get back to what they did here in the past in 2015 and some of those other years when they had deep playoff runs and had the crowd involved and the city hyped up. We haven’t had that.”

The Panthers are 7-27 since Thielen arrived in 2023, which is far from what he expected when he signed with Carolina.

When Thielen came into the league in 2013, the Panthers were one of the league's top teams. They won the NFC South in the first three years of Thielen's career while he was with the Minnesota Vikings. They have yet to win a division title since.

With Thielen's hungry energy and a renewed sense of confidence surrounding the organization, the Panthers hope to get back to the playoffs and bring along a new generation of success to the franchise.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is congratulated by tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen is congratulated by tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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