Panthers 2021 season opener countdown: 86 days to go

We’re counting down the days until the Panthers kick off the 2021 season.

We’re 86 days away from the Carolina Panthers 2021 season opener, so that means today’s countdown piece is devoted to No. 86 on the roster — tight end Colin Thompson.

Colin Thompson is somewhat of a journeyman tight end, signing with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2017. After that he bounced around from the Chicago Bears to the AFL’s Birmingham Iron to the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in the spring of 2020. He even spent some of that time working as a host on 97.3 ESPN radio and a sideline reporter for Temple Owls football games.

It was in April 2020 when his old college coach, Matt Rhule, made Thompson an NFL employee again. In Carolina Thompson reunited with ex-Temple Owls P.J. Walker, Robby Anderson, and Keith Kirkwood.

In fact, Thompson caught just 19 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown over three seasons at Temple. He only suited up for 14 games over that time.

Rhule must really have taken a liking to Thompson during his time at school, because Thompson ended up on the field for close to 18% of the Panthers offensive snaps in 2020.

He scored a touchdown on the first touch of his NFL career, a pass from Teddy Bridgewater in the first quarter of Carolina’s Week 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like fellow tight end Giovanni Ricci, it could be more difficult for Thompson to see the field this season.

Thompson is now competing in the Panthers depth chart with the likes of free agent signing Dan Arnold, veteran Ian Thomas and third round draft pick Tommy Tremble.

Arnold caught 31 passes for Arizona last year while Thomas caught 20 passes for the Panthers last season.

Then again, Thompson was in the huddle in nearly one of every five offensive plays last year, indicating that Rhule seems to trust him.