On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
A longtime NFL wide receiver seems to be approaching 2025 as his final curtain call.
Speaking this week at a team community event, Carolina Panthers receiver Adam Thielen was asked by reporters if next season could be his final one in the NFL. Thielen responded that it may indeed be his last go.
“It could be, yeah,” said Thielen, per Coral Smith of NFL.com. “Every year, you look back and you say, ‘Hey, what left do I have to give to this game?’ I talked to my family, and they wanted me to keep playing. So it will be the same process.
“Not gonna think about that right now,” Thielen continued. “I’m gonna focus on being the best football player I can possibly be, and you have to have that mindset in this league. And then once the season’s over — evaluate, see where we’re at, see where the team’s at, see where I’m at individually and as a family and figure it out. But definitely, definitely winding down my career. But excited about this year and what could happen.”
Thielen, who turns 35 in August, is about to enter his 12th NFL season. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, making two Pro Bowl teams, earning one All-Pro nod, and producing four total seasons with either 1,000 yards receiving or 10 receiving touchdowns. Thielen then went on to sign with the Panthers before the 2023 campaign, turning in a 1,014-yard receiving season that year.
The former undrafted player Thielen slowed down a bit in 2024 with 48 catches for 615 yards and five touchdowns. He also spent a good chunk of the year on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
Ultimately, Thielen decided to return to Carolina for one more year, reworking his contract to do so. But with that contract set to expire after the season, Thielen may very well be entering his last dance in the NFL.
More must-reads:
- Ikem Ekwonu aiming for Panthers extension
- Revisiting the Bears and Panthers 2023 Draft Trade
- The 'NFL receiving yard leaders since 2022' quiz
TODAY'S BEST
Haason Reddick’s return to Philly finally allows Eagles fans to say “we told you so'
The Philadelphia Eagles are reigning Super Bowl champions despite having traded away Haason Reddick. In the 2024 offseason, Philly traded Reddick to the New York Jets right after agreeing to a three-year, $50 million contract with former Jets speed demon on the edge Bryce Huff. Reddick's refusal to suit up for the Jets until the season was essentially over led to just 1.5 sacks on the register, which forced him to sign a one-year prove-it deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The reigning NFC South champions are on Philadelphia's schedule this season, which could According to the Eagles' 2025 schedule, Philly will travel to Tampa Bay in Week 4 to face off with Reddick for the first time since his departure. The two parties might finally get some resolution between them after this matchup, which could show the league once and for all if Reddick is still a viable starting pass rusher in the NFL. Former Eagles star Haason Reddick will face old team with Buccaneers in Week 4 The Reddick-for-Huff pseudo-swap seems to have no winners. Reddick cost himself millions of dollars and put up the worst performance of his career, while Huff was so ineffective after signing a three-year contract that he was essentially deactivated after falling to the bottom of the depth chart. Reddick is joining a Tampa Bay team that not only had one of the worst pass rushes in the league last season, but also chose to address wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL Draft. Reddick will be one of this team's most impactful players on either side of the ball, and his game against the Eagles could either set the tone for a strong start or show how his career has sputtered. Reddick will certainly have his work cut out for him. There may be no finer pair of offensive tackles in the league than Jordan Mailata on the left side and Lane Johnson on the right can make it very difficult for a smaller speed rusher that is getting a bit long in the tooth in Reddick to prove he can still operate at a high level. The Eagles seem to be getting along just fine without Reddick, which could make this Week 4 duel even more painful for Reddick if he fails to pressure Jalen Hurts. A slow start in Tampa could be the last chance for Reddick when it comes to establishing himself as a starter.
Lakers Have $5.7 Million And Minimal Trade Assets To Improve The Roster This Summer
With LeBron James and Luka Doncic set to return next season, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to do everything in their power to upgrade the supporting cast. The only problem is that the Lakers don't have a whole lot to work with this summer after using up all of their assets and flexibility to build the current roster. As it stands, they only have a few million dollars in cap space with just one future first-round pick. "The Lakers need to find a way to add more size, defense, shooting, and athleticism around Doncic, which is far easier said than done," reported The Athletic's Jovan Buha. "And they need to do so with limited roster-building tools, especially if James doesn’t take a pay cut, as The Athletic previously reported, is unlikely. In that case, the Lakers will likely only have the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception and a few trade assets at their disposal (one first-round pick, several expiring contracts, and Dalton Knecht)." Building a championship team is never easy, and the Lakers need some big changes following a subpar effort in the playoffs. After acquiring Luka Doncic mid-season, the hope among the fans is that they'll be much improved in the next campaign with a full summer to adjust. Of course, with limited options for change, the biggest improvements might have to come from within. After years of trying to build a dynasty in the LeBron James era, the Lakers have essentially run their well dry, and it's put them in a difficult position for the future. While LeBron and Reaves were signed to the team (no assets given), they are on the books for $66.8 million next season, and it limits how much money the Lakers have to pay everyone else. The lack of cap flexibility might not be bad if the Lakers had the pieces to make a trade, but they gave up the last of their assets in the Luka Doncic trade, which required them to sacrifice Anthony Davis, young guard Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. After their involvement in the Luka trade and the Russell Westbrook trade, that 2029 pick is the last one the Lakers have left, and they will not give it up easily. Without the pick, however, the Lakers have nothing else to offer that doesn't involve breaking up their own star-studded core. With a relatively weak and unproven bench, the Lakers aren't going to get much for guys like Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, either. Outside of the starters, the only Lakers player with any real trade value is Dalton Knecht, who was part of the botched Mark Williams deal back in February. If they don't want to give up Austin Reaves or Rui Hachimura, the best the Lakers can hope for is to acquire/trade for a veteran role-player like Daniel Gafford or Robert Williams. Beyond that, the Lakers would have to give up one of their major rotation players, and it would come with a lot of risks. No matter how it shakes out, Rob Pelinka is going to have his work cut out for him this summer. In a few weeks, he'll have to decide how far he wants to go in the pursuit of one last championship with LeBron James. While options may be limited, the Lakers could still see a dramatic improvement if they're willing to give up what's left of their asset pool.
Jimmy Butler makes his feelings on Warriors very clear
Jimmy Butler’s first season with the Golden State Warriors may not have ended the way he had hoped, but that does not change his feelings about the team. Butler was traded to the Warriors in early February and helped the team earn the 7th spot in the Western Conference. They beat the Houston Rockets in seven games in their first-round playoff series, but then they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in their conference semifinals series. The day after his Warriors were eliminated from the postseason, Butler spoke with the media. He made clear that he is happy with the team. “I’m comfortable. I’m happy. I got my joy back as Buddy said. I am very fortunate to be here,” Butler said, referencing teammate Buddy Hield, via Ohm Youngmisuk. Butler also said he was comfortable in his role as a second option to Steph Curry. “To come here and know I’m second to Steph is a really good thing. To be his sidekick, it’s really refreshing,” Butler added. Butler making clear that he is happy with the Warriors is significant. Butler is notorious for forcing his way off teams the moment he gets disenchanted with a situation. The 35-year-old is still under contract to make just under $111 million over the next two seasons, which is a long time for things to possibly change. Golden State took a chance when they acquired Butler in a trade. He fit in well with the team, and he should be able to make them tougher next season as they look to be a big factor in the West.
Insider Gives Reason Why Steelers Are Not Forcing Aaron Rodgers' Hand
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently facing an uncertain quarterback situation, with no definitive starter named as of now. However, it's widely known that the Steelers are favorites to land veteran free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Despite all of the speculation and discussion, Rodgers has yet to make an official decision. As a result, fans remain in a state of anxious anticipation, eagerly awaiting word on whether the future Hall of Famer will join the Steelers in 2025. Gerry Dulac, a Steelers insider, recently hosted a chat, and he addressed a wide range of questions surrounding the team. To no surprise, one of the hot topics was the possibility of Rodgers signing with Pittsburgh. When asked whether the Steelers were putting all their eggs in the Rodgers basket, Dulac was firm in his belief. "Look, the Steelers aren't stupid. They're not just waiting around hoping Rodgers signs. They are waiting because they firmly believe he will sign," Dulac wrote. This comment lines up with then narrative currently circulating in the media. While many fans remain on edge due to the lack of a definitive answer from Rodgers, the Steelers' front office has consistently projected a sense of calm and control throughout the offseason. In fact, recent reports have suggested that the team and Rodgers may already have a handshake agreement in place, further reinforcing the confidence coming out of Pittsburgh’s leadership. It has felt like ages for Steelers fans since the initial rumors about Rodgers potentially joining the team began to surface. Although numerous speculative deadlines have circulated, there hasn’t been any official timeline publicly confirmed. With that said, key offseason programs, such as Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and mini camp, are just around the corner. Having Rodgers present for these sessions would be incredibly valuable as the team looks to build chemistry and prepare for the upcoming season. The 2025 NFL schedule was recently unveiled, and many have noted that the Steelers' matchups seem tailor-made for Rodgers. Even prominent NFL insider Adam Schefter pointed out the connection between the Steelers’ schedule and Rodgers’ potential fit with the team, and is wondering why the wait is ongoing. Immediately following the question about whether the Steelers were putting all their eggs in Rodgers' basket, Dulac was asked what are the actual chances that Rodgers ends up signing with Pittsburgh and if the likelihood was greater or less than 90 percent. Dulac had a surprising response. "Above," Dulac responded. This is clearly a remarkably high percentage, and if the rumors of a handshake agreement between Rodgers and the Steelers are true, Dulac’s response would certainly support that narrative. It suggests that behind the scenes, there may be more certainty about Rodgers’ future in Pittsburgh than the public has been led to believe. Steelers Still Need A Long-Term Quarterback For The Future Whether Rodgers ultimately signs with the Steelers or not, one thing is clear, at 41 years old and currently the oldest active player in the NFL, Rodgers is not the long-term solution at quarterback for Pittsburgh. Reports have indicated that the Steelers’ offer to Rodgers is for just one year, reinforcing the idea that the team views him as a short-term option. The Steelers are hopeful to find their future franchise quarterback in the NFL Draft. With the 2025 NFL Draft now in the books, the Steelers did select quarterback Will Howard. However, since he was taken in the later rounds, his long-term role with the team remains uncertain. This year’s quarterback class was generally viewed as weaker compared to others, which may have influenced the Steelers’ draft approach. Looking ahead, the 2026 NFL Draft, set to take place in Pittsburgh, offers a prime opportunity for the team to make another move at the quarterback position. It will be intriguing to watch how the Steelers navigate their strategy with a stronger quarterback class expected next year and the added significance of hosting the draft in their own city.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
