Panthers veteran linebacker labeled a bounce-back candidate for good reason heading into 2024 season

Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson has long been one of the most dependable players on the defense. 

That changed in 2023. 

He fractured his leg in Week 2 of the season. It was uncertain whether Thompson would return, but after an offseason where the Panthers made restructuring his contract a priority, the 30-year-old veteran was labeled a bounce-back candidate by Pro Football Focus heading into the 2024 season. 

"It’s a feat in and of itself that Thompson is still with the Panthers, but he’s more than just a Super Bowl holdover: he can play well, too. Thompson fractured his ankle in Week 2 of 2023, playing just 68 snaps after exceeding 1,000 in two of the three prior seasons," Bradley Locker writes.

"Speaking of which, Thompson has generally been good when on the field. The 30-year-old posted overall grades of 72.3 and 72.7 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and has reached the 40-stop mark in each of the past four seasons. Carolina will need much better overall defensive production if it wants to make a jump in Dave Canales’ first year, and Thompson's return could provide a boost."

Thompson posted 100 tackles for the previous four seasons before getting injured in 2023. 

In several ways, Thompson is the heart and soul of the Panthers defense. If he bounces back in 2024, Carolina's defense could be back among the league's best sooner rather than later.