A pretty bright year for Carolina Panthers wideout Adam Thielen has gotten a little bit brighter.
The 10th-year veteran has been chosen as the team’s nominee for the 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Named in honor of the late Art Rooney Sr., founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer, the award was established in 2014 to recognize players who demonstrate on-field sportsmanship. Players are considered through numerous qualities including fair play, respect for the game and their opponents and integrity in competition.
After playing his first NFL nine seasons with the hometown Minnesota Vikings, Thielen signed with the Panthers this offseason. Through 10 games, the 33-year-old leads the team in all major receiving categories and currently ranks fourth in the league in receptions (76).
A panel of NFL legends will cut down the list of 32 nominees into eight finalists, all of whom will be placed on the Pro Bowl ballot for player voting starting Dec. 15. The winner will be announced during the NFL Honors show on the weekend of Super Bowl LVIII.
The Panthers have rostered two previous winners of the honor, linebacker Luke Kuechly (2017) and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (2020).
