Greg Olsen was out on the practice field in a shell a helmet on Thursday, as Bill Voth of Panthers.com tweets. It’s a huge step forward for Olsen after fracturing his foot less than a month ago.
Olsen opted against having surgery and the team chose not to place him on injured reserve, which opened up the possibility of him returning before Week 9. At the time, it seemed like an ambitious plan, but Olsen seems to be inching close to recovery. The tight end has already been ruled out for this week’s game against the Giants, but he could theoretically be available for the club’s Oct. 14 game against the Redskins.
Olsen inked an extension with the Panthers this spring, tying him to the team through the 2020 season. He’s been among the league’s best tight ends since arriving in Carolina in 2011 and topped 1,000 yards receiving in each season from 2014-2016. The 33-year-old was held back by injury last year, so he’s understandably eager to return to football and reassert himself as an elite pass-catcher.