Indiana Football Players in NFL, Week 5: Ian Thomas Makes 28-Yard Catch for Panthers

Of the eight former Indiana football players on active NFL rosters, six took the field on Sunday. It was a quiet week in general, but notably, former Indiana football tight end Ian Thomas hauled in a 28-yard reception for the Carolina Panthers, making it his biggest play of the 2023 season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — It was a rather uneventful week for former Indiana football players in the NFL. 

Micah McFadden and the New York Giants were on a bye. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine only had one reception in a loss for the Tennessee Titans. Peyton Hendershot is currently sidelined from the Dallas Cowboys with an injury.

But Ian Thomas — who played for both coach Kevin Wilson and coach Tom Allen at IU from 2016-17 — had a notable play this past Sunday.

Here's the roundup on everything Hoosier football players did during Week 5 of the NFL season:

Ian Thomas 28-yard Catch

The Carolina Panthers primarily use Thomas as a blocking tight end. He's played 88 offensive snaps during the 2023 season, and 79 of those have come with him positioned as an inline blocker, according to Pro Football Focus. 

However, he still managed to haul in a 28-yard reception during Carolina's 42-24 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. It was only Thomas's second catch of the season. 

Though, that catch of his did not get clipped and shared over social media en mass. Rather, angry Panthers fans and media alike clipped his other target that ended in an interception for quarterback Bryce Young rather than in a completion to Thomas.

Panthers' faithful did not seem to pleased with coach Frank Reich calling a screen pass for a blocking tight end currently in his sixth season in the NFL. 

A screen pass to Ian Thomas is an abomination and you deserve whatever happens to you if you have that in your playbook. The Lions didn’t need any help, but of course they will accept 21 gift wrapped points.

🎥 @Queen_City_News pic.twitter.com/5SI9U6bvyq

— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) October 9, 2023

Other Indiana Football Players in NFL

(All snap count totals are from Pro Football Focus, also known as PFF). 

• Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans — 1 reception for 9 yards, 42 snaps played. 
• Raheem Layne, DB, Los Angeles Chargers — Bye week.
• Micah McFadden, LB, New York Giants — Bye week. 
• Peyton Hendershot, TE, Dallas Cowboys — Inactive for Week 5 with ankle injury.
• Cam Jones, LB, Kansas City Chiefs — 14 snaps played, all on Special Teams. 
• Dan Feeney, OL, Chicago Bears — 8 snaps played.
• Caleb Jones, OL, Green Bay Packers — 0 snaps played.

Related Stories on Indiana Football:

• STARTING QB CONFIRMED, INJURY UPDATE ON CAMPER: During his Monday press conference, Indiana football coach Tom Allen gave injury updates on wide receiver Cam Camper and quarterback Dexter Williams II, while also confirming that Tayven Jackson will be the team's starting quarterback against Michigan on Saturday. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA VS MICHIGAN OPENING LINE: Indiana resumes action on Saturday against Michigan after a bye week, and coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers are 34.5-point underdogs. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA HIRING JUSTIN FUENTE: Coach Tom Allen and the Indiana Hoosiers are adding former Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente as a football analyst. This news comes one week after former offensive coordinator Walt Bell was fired, and Rod Carey was promoted from the position of quality control coach to the role of offensive coordinator. CLICK HERE
• ROD CAREY IU'S HIGHEST PAID ASSISTANT COACH EVER: After firing Walt Bell, Indiana football coach Tom Allen chose to promote Rod Carey to the role of offensive coordinator, without an interim tag. On Friday, details surrounding Carey's contract were reported by the IndyStar, and revealed that Carey is going to be paid more money annually than any Indiana football assistant coach ever has before. CLICK HERE