Thielen is a difficult player to replace for many reasons, especially because he has maintained a high level of performance throughout his career. Last season, he was the only part of the passing game that really worked, with 103 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He played well again last Sunday, rushing for a 31-yard touchdown while tearing his Achilles tendon that landed him on IR.

His ability as a route runner is irreplaceable, even though the Panthers have made sure to train receivers at multiple positions. But between the great stamina that Legette brings to the table and the developing intermediate routes that Mingo has shown his ability to run, the Panthers can approach it in different ways.

Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said the fact that the 34-year-old Thielen is actually being coached means that other guys have the opportunity to step in during training camp, which in turn provides the opportunity to coach others.

“Sometimes you have to give guys in their 30s a vet day,” Idzik said. “So there were a lot of people who got Adams reps as well. So there’s a cycle of people from top to bottom in this room; they all get their chance to execute the game plan and stay committed.”

“So I’m really excited about the whole group and their attention to detail, their ability to play multiple positions and just kind of plug and play and that we don’t miss anything.”