2023 really seemed like the year where the Carolina Panthers would finally see some numbers from the tight end position. Their new head coach was considered quite tight end-friendly, their new offensive coordinator was a tight ends coach under Sean McVay and they signed a solid pass catcher in Hayden Hurst.
But, uh, the stats still aren’t there.
Buy Panthers TicketsThrough four games, Panthers tight ends have combined for 104 yards and one touchdown on 13 receptions. So, that new offensive coordinator was asked about the lack of production on Thursday.
“Well, I think one thing when you talk about the tight end group is when you understand the position,” Thomas Brown said prior to this afternoon’s practice. “And having had a chance to coach that before I came here in L.A.—that’s a spot that kinda has a lot of involvement with the offense. I think when you talk about overall success, it’s not just about touches and catches. What they do in the run game and protection game is a big part of overall success.”
Carolina’s group of Hurst, Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Giovanni Ricci has not been tasked with much from a receiving standpoint—having been targeted a total of 20 times thus far. They haven’t been particularly awesome in the run game or in the protection game either, as none currently have a top-20 grade from Pro Football Focus in run- or pass-blocking.
Regardless, there are 13 games to go and plenty to figure out—and it’s not just the tight ends who need to step it up.
“And I won’t just holler at that group and say there needs to be more production,” Brown added. “We need more production overall, from everybody. It’s not just that one group in particular.”
