CHARLOTTE — Ian Thomas, ever the genteel mauler, spoke softly but confidently, weeks and even months of frustration giving way to tempered relief.

"When you go back on the field after so long, it's just – it's different," Thomas admitted last week.

The Panthers tight end spent much of the offseason on injured reserve. Technically he's still there, slowly recovering and returning from a calf injury. The Panthers opened up the window on Thomas and corner Dane Jackson last week, meaning the two could return to practice and have 21 days to be added back to the active roster.

Even with years of playing football under his belt, the return came with a bit of whiplash.

"Your feet feel different in the turf and your cleats and all your gear on," Thomas joked. "I haven't got hit yet. That will be a shock for sure. But I don't know, I usually deliver the blow. So, if I do that, then I think I'm good."

Getting and giving hits is a huge part of Thomas' game as a stalwart blocking tight end, so it will come sooner rather than later. But the chance to simply be back on the field, in whatever capacity, is something Thomas isn't taking for granted after so much time away. And with Tommy Tremble in the concussion protocol, Thomas could be needed before his three weeks are up.

"It feel great. I feel like I'm a part again," Thomas said. "Not that they made me feel, not a part but just relating to the guys, going over the plays and talking about the last play vs like coaching up every play."

Through training camp and the first few weeks of the season, Thomas did turn into a bit of a coach, outfit and all; "Me and Tommy used to joke about him looking like a coach and he come out there with the bucket hat on," laughed Ja'Tavion Sanders. But in a way, Thomas' time on the sideline, with a call sheet and a fresh set of eyes, could pay dividends for the Panthers.

The rookie tight end, Sanders, was known in college as one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the draft class. He had 45 receptions for 682 yards and two receiving touchdowns his final year at Texas. But he needed to learn to block better, he readily admitted. So, he took advantage of Thomas' time on the sideline.

"The run game aspect as a whole, that was something I know I need to work on coming into the NFL and just understanding how – Ian is, in my opinion, he's been one of the best run blocking tight ends in the league for the past few years," Sanders said.

"So, seeing it with my own eyes and him doing it and practicing and me taking that same rep and trying to do what he did, it's all coming together, it's starting to in my game. So, I just couldn't be more thankful a guy like him."

During the weeks Thomas was cordoned off, he watched the areas of the field he can't always see when lined up at scrimmage and directed those around him into better situations.

"Just like the small tips, like, what did I see? Like, oh, like maybe that guy won't bite on this hard of a step, but I can try to like move my shoulders and my head with it with my step. So just small stuff like that," Thomas explained.

"So, watching the different looks and trying to give little, small tips here and there that, you know, you never know what could help somebody else. So just small stuff like that. And then of course, like getting my mental reps while I'm just watching."

When Thomas talks, it's hard not to notice the Oura ring glinting off his right hand. It was a gift from his fiancée, and the two check their stats each night to compare to the previous day. There are certain times, usually taking place during practice, that Thomas' stress levels will spike more than usual. Those are easy to explain away though, he joked.

"I'm like, well, today I'm thinking about the big person I got to block on Sunday and, you know, that's stressful to think about," he said.

Thomas could be blocking someone again as soon as this coming Sunday, as the Panthers take on the Falcons. If he finishes the week of practice well, Dave Canales said this "absolutely could be the week" Thomas and Jackson return.

In the meantime, Thomas will welcome each practice, each rep and yes, each hit, as it brings him one step closer back to the game.

"I feel strong," he said. "It's different when you're in a real game and it's a little different. So, I'm just gaining my confidence."