With tight end Greg Olsen on the shelf for the time being, the Carolina Panthers had to find another player who would be able to step up in his absence against the Falcons. Fortunately, they did not have to look too far. Ian Thomas, who has been mostly an afterthought this year, was able to fill the void. In short, he filled it nicely.
He had his best game of the season on Sunday against the Falcons. In what was an otherwise dismal performance, he was a bright spot. He caught five passes on 10 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown.