On his third team in three years, Hurst hopes to help the Panthers as a middle-field target for rookie Bryce Young. Sadly, Hurst's receiving average has dropped in each of his five seasons and last year he saw three or fewer touchdowns for the fourth time in five years. If there's a glimmer of hope it's that the Panthers receiving corps is awfully shallow, providing Hurst with a chance to see more than the 5.2 targets per game he averaged in 2022. His Week 1 matchup at Atlanta won't be impossible, so at the very least you could draft Hurst with a late-round pick and then hope he gets your team off to a good start this fall. He shouldn't get picked until at least 20 other tight ends get taken, which means he might not get drafted at all.
Hurst (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at New Orleans.
Hurst returned to practice Wednesday and remained a limited participant throughout the week, but he sounds like he could be in danger of missing time even beyond Week 14. A recent social media post by his father revealed that Hurst was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia after taking a hard hit Nov. 9 against the Bears. Fellow tight ends Tommy Tremble (hip) and Stephen Sullivan (shoulder) are listed as questionable this week, but both seem likely to play after practicing fully Friday.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Another limited showing
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Hurst (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
In the wake of Hurst getting back on the practice field Wednesday, albeit with a cap on his reps and while donning a red non-contact jersey, Adam Schefter of ESPN highlighted a recent social-media post from the tight end's father, Jerry Hurst, who noted that his son was diagnosed with post traumatic amnesia by an independent neurologist due to the hit that he endured on Nov. 9 at Chicago. Hurst himself posted Thursday that he didn't "remember up to four hours after the game," but "the Panthers have been incredible walking me through this process." Considering he seems to have a few phases of the protocol for head injuries yet to clear, he may not be a great bet to play in Sunday's contest at New Orleans, which could be confirmed when Carolina posts its final Week 14 injury report Friday.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Limited in return to practice
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Hurst (concussion) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Hurst so far has sat out three games due to a concussion, but he was spotted in a red non-contact jersey in his return to practice Wednesday. His return to the field represents a sign of progress in his quest through the five-step concussion protocol, and he'll have two more chances to practice this week and potentially get closer to gaining clearance from an independent neurologist. Fellow tight ends Tommy Tremble (hip) and Stephen Sullivan (shoulder) also were limited participants to begin Week 14 prep, leaving just Ian Thomas as the Panthers' healthy option at the position on the active roster.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Practicing without contact
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Hurst (concussion) is practicing Wednesday in a red non-contact jersey, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hurst is progressing through the NFL's five-step concussion protocol but will likely need to take part in at least one full-contact practice Thursday or Friday to have a chance to play Sunday against the Saints. He has missed the last three games due to the concussion, and Carolina has gotten minimal production in Hurst's absence from its other tight ends (Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan).
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Ruled out for Tampa matchup
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Hurst (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
Hurt will miss a third straight game, and with fellow tight end Tommy Tremble (hip) listed as doubtful, it looks like Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan will be Carolina's top tight ends. Thomas has plenty of experience as an NFL starter but has never done much in terms of drawing targets or putting up big receiving numbers even when he gets a lot of playing time.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Still not practicing
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Hurst (concussion) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hurst hasn't practiced since being diagnosed with a concussion following a Week 10 game against the Bears on Thursday, Nov. 9. Considering it's been three weeks since suffering the injury, there's no telling when he may receive clearance to play again. With Tommy Tremble (hip) also banged up at the moment, the Panthers' healthy tight ends on the active roster are Ian Thomas and Stephen Sullivan.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Not at practice
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Hurst (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Hurst missed the past two games and apparently is in danger of missing a third when the Panthers face the Buccaneers on Sunday. Tommy Tremble has taken on more snaps and routes at tight end in Hurst's absence, but Tremble came out of Sunday's loss to Tennessee with a groin injury of his own.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Out again
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Hurst (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Hurst will miss a second straight game after sitting out every practice this week. Fellow Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble played a career-high 76 percent of snaps in the team's loss to Dallas last week, catching one of three targets for a four-yard TD.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: No practice Thursday
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Hurst (concussion) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hurst hasn't practiced since emerging with a concussion following the Panthers' loss at Chicago on Nov. 9. With just one more opportunity to mix into drills this week, he seems to be on the outside looking in to return to action Sunday at Tennessee. Hurst may be a candidate to be ruled out on the Panthers' final Week 12 injury report Friday.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Not practicing
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Hurst (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hurst was inactive for the first time this season when Carolina lost to Dallas this past Sunday. Another absence is possible for Sunday's matchup with Tennessee, potentially leaving Tommy Tremble in a larger role again as Carolina's top tight end after he played 76 percent of the offensive snaps against the Cowboys.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Ruled out for Week 11
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Hurst (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas.
Hurst has been in a TE timeshare with Tommy Tremble, who caught multiple passes each of the past four games after hauling in only two balls over the first five weeks of the season. It's also possible Ian Thomas (calf) and Stephen Sullivan (shoulder) take on more snaps in Hurst's absence, though both are listed as questionable on the final injury report. Carolina tight ends have accounted for 36 catches, 334 yards and three TDs in nine games this season -- about half the production that WR Adam Thielen has provided on his own.
Hurst (concussion) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Hurst has missed both of Carolina's first two Week 11 practices while in concussions protocol and thus appears to be trending toward an absence Sunday against the Cowboys. If Hurst is sidelined this weekend, Tommy Tremble would have a clearer path to the No. 1 role at tight end after the two had been working in a timeshare in recent weeks.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Concussion confirmed
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Hurst is in the NFL's concussion protocol and didn't practice Wednesday.
Joe Person of The Athletic previously reported Tuesday that Hurst had entered the protocol at some point following the Panthers' Week 10 loss to the Bears, but it wasn't until the release of Wednesday's injury report that the team confirmed as much. Given that Hurst wasn't able to practice in any fashion to begin Week 11 prep, he may struggle to clear all five steps of the protocol in advance of Sunday's game against the Cowboys. If Hurst is sidelined this weekend, Tommy Tremble would likely serve as Carolina's top tight end, and the Panthers could get Ian Thomas (calf) back from injured reserve to bolster depth at the position.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Placed in concussion protocol
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Hurst entered the NFL's concussion protocol during this past Thursday's 16-13 loss to the Bears, a league source tells Joe Person of The Athletic.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich hasn't confirmed that Hurst was placed in the protocol, but the tight end's status could get cleared up when the team releases its first Week 11 injury report Wednesday. Hurst finished the Week 10 contest with two catches for 14 yards on four targets and has moved into a time share with Tommy Tremble, with both players logging north of 30 percent of the offensive snaps over the past four games. If Hurst can't go Sunday against the Cowboys, Tremble would likely serve as the Panthers' primary tight end, though Ian Thomas (calf) could also factor into the mix after he was designated for return from injured reserve last week.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Long gain Sunday
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Hurst caught two of four targets for 54 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Colts.
Hurst's performance was highlighted by a season-long catch of 48 yards. The tight end gained more yardage on that play than he did in his previous four outings combined, providing a needed jolt to his stock. Despite that improvement, Hurst still played fewer snaps than fellow tight end Tommy Tremble, who caught two passes for 12 yards.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Churns out full practice
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Hurst (illness) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Hurst appears to have moved past the illness that kept him from practicing Wednesday, but that won't guarantee him a role as the Panthers' top tight end Sunday against the Colts. After playing barely north of 50 percent of the Panthers' offensive snaps in both of the team's final two games before a Week 7 bye, Hurst dropped down to a season-low 31 percent snap share in this past Sunday's 15-13 win over the Texans. Tommy Tremble ended up leading the position group with a 54 percent share and caught two passes for four yards and a touchdown on three targets. Tremble's modest production still outpaced that of Hurst, who failed to corral either of his two targets en route to finishing without a reception for the first time in seven appearances on the season.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Dealing with illness
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Hurst was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice due to an illness.
Hurst was among a number of key skill-position players sitting out to kick off Week 9 prep, with wide receivers Adam Thielen (rest), DJ Chark (elbow) and Laviska Shenault (ankle) also going down as non-participants on the official practice report. Fortunately for Hurst, he came down with an illness in the middle of the week, giving him plenty of time to recover ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts. He'll have two more chances to get back on the practice field this week.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: No catches Sunday
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Hurst finished with zero catches on two targets in Sunday's 15-13 win over the Texans.
Hurst's goose egg came while he played a season-low 19 offensive snaps. Meanwhile, listed backup Tommy Tremble featured for a season-high 33 plays. Although Tremble managed only two catches for four yards, one of his grabs was a touchdown. That situation has Hurst's stock trending firmly downward ahead of next Sunday's game versus the Colts.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Just one grab against Miami
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Hurst caught one of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Dolphins.
Hurst has now finished with only one reception in three of Carolina's last four games heading into its bye week. Meanwhile, Tommy Tremble caught two passes for 25 yards in Sunday's loss while playing 31 snaps to Hurst's 36, one week after he caught his first TD of the season. While the veteran tight end remains atop the depth chart heading into the Panthers' Week 7 bye, Hurst's position seems tenuous.
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Panthers' Hayden Hurst: Makes three grabs
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Hurst caught all three of his targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 42-24 loss to the Lions.
Hurst's production wasn't anything special, but it still marked improvement from consecutive one-catch showings the two weeks prior. Nonetheless, with one-yard touchdowns going to wideout Adam Thielen and reserve tight end Tommy Tremble, Hurst missed out on potential scoring boosts to his stock.
