The curious disappearance of Ian Thomas

Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesCarolina Panthers second-year tight end Ian Thomas doesn’t currently have a nickname. I’d suggest “Houdini” based on his stunning disappearing act this year.

The Panthers selected Thomas in the fourth round of the 2018 draft with the intention of bringing him along slowly as Greg Olsen’s understudy. After all, in college Thomas produced just 28 receptions for 404 yards in his two seasons at Indiana. Plans changed though when Olsen’s 2018 campaign was dogged by injury and Thomas was thrust into a prominent position in Carolina’s offense.

Thomas responded well. Olsen was in and out of the lineup throughout 2018 which resulted in sporadic playing…