The Carolina Panthers just recently extended the contract of tight end Ian Thomas on a brand new three-year deal. On Monday, however, some troubling reports emerged regarding a run-in with the law involving the tight end. According to The Athletic's Joseph Person, Thomas is facing as many as five misdemeanor charges which stem from an arrest in July of 2021.

The 25-year-old was arrested on July 12 after reportedly attempting to evade police on an unregistered dirt bike after officers initiated a traffic stop just north of Charlotte. The police report indicates that Thomas and another individual, who was riding an ATV, “appeared to slow down, then accelerated and entered the oncoming lane of traffic.” The incident reportedly took place around 9:30 pm, nearby a local Wal-Mart.

Person reported that a team spokesperson said the franchise is aware of the matter and had notified the league. The Panthers' tight end is due to appear in court in August.

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His pending legal matters didn't seem to impact the Panthers' decision to sign him to a new contract. The 25-year-old tight end was set to test free agency for the first time in his career, however, the Panthers kept him off the open market by offering him a three-year, $17 million deal.

Last season, Thomas recorded 18 receptions and 188 yards with zero touchdowns across 17 games. He's featured in a total of 65 games for the Panthers, having scored 4 TDs in his NFL career. Thomas was selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft (101st overall) out of the University of Indiana.