Is Hayden Hurst injured or healthy? Fantasy Football Injury Update

Tight end Hayden Hurst missed the recent Carolina Panthers OTAs due to an off-season sports hernia surgery. While the timetable for his return remains uncertain, he will be back in time for the team’s training camp by July.

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Last season, Hurst had 68 catches for 414 yards and two touchdowns. Panthers head coach Frank Reich will put him in a position to match or surpass those numbers. They also envision him as the lead tight end during this rebuilding phase after giving him a three-year, $21.75 million contract, which includes $13 million in guaranteed money.

Hurst will join a rotation with Ian Thomas, Tommy Tremble, and Giovanni Ricci. Last season, the Panthers re-signed Thomas to a three-year, $16.95 million contract.

The Carolina starting tight end job is Hayden Hurst's to lose

Hurst will be joining his fourth team in six seasons. Mark Andrews made him expendable in Baltimore, and the Atlanta Falcons did not exercise his fifth-year option after drafting Kyle Pitts. The former South Carolina standout did well in his lone season with the Bengals. As of 2022, he has 177 receptions for 1,718 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Panthers will use Hurst as their pass-catching tight end, while Thomas will handle plays requiring extra blockers. Therefore, Hurst will get more snaps as a potential target for the team’s starting quarterback. He will also eat into Tremble’s playing time after a disappointing 2022 season.

Hayden Hurst is also their best option at tight end, especially after the Panthers did use any of their five draft picks to add someone at the position.

His presence gives Panthers quarterbacks an option for short and intermediate routes. Hurst will also be a hot target during third-and-short situations. He will also get catches in the middle of the field if opposing teams put an extra body on DJ Chark, Adam Thielen, or Terrace Marshall Jr.

Hurst’s catching ability makes him a potent option during check downs when the opponent goes for a blitz. He can also get some receptions if Carolina calls play-action off Miles Sanders.

Those attributes should make him a solid choice for the flex spots on fantasy football teams. While he will have his moments, the Panthers’ starting quarterback (Bryce Young or Andy Dalton) has talented targets around them. Besides, several tight ends can deliver more fantasy points than Hurst.

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