The Carolina Panthers are still sorting out their wideout room in the absence of Adam Thielen.
As announced on Monday, the team has signed receiver Deven Thompkins to their practice squad. The 24-year-old was a member of Carolina’s summer roster before being waived/injured on Aug. 11.
Thompkins spent the 2023 campaign alongside Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who was serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Canales gave reporters an idea of what the team was getting in the speedy 5-foot-8, 155-pounder when they added him during the offseason.
“I’m excited to get him in here,” he said of Thompkins back in July. “He’s another kick returner as well. He’s got some explosive elements to his play—so, really fun. Brings a different style of guy. We got a really big, strong group. But it’s also good to have those change-of-pace guys that can attack the defense a different way.”
Thielen, the offense’s primary slot receiver, was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday due to the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 3’s 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Thompkins, under Canales, played 63.7 percent of his snaps from the inside this past season.
Carolina also signed tight end Stephen Sullivan to the practice squad. Sullivan appeared in 28 games for the Panthers between 2021 and 2023.
To help make some room for the returns, the team released rookie wideout Sam Pinckney from the group.
