Adam Thielen is Still a Justin Jefferson Fan
When Justin Jefferson came into the league, he was doing so as the Minnesota Vikings second wide receiver. That’s because Minnesota had created a strong succession of wideouts, and the current top dog was fan favorite Adam Thielen.
Unlike Stefon Diggs before him, Adam Thielen exited the organization with class and grace. He wanted to cash in, and the market was always going to pay him more elsewhere. When the Carolina Panthers came calling, he took the opportunity to cash in. Although he was a big delusional in the pursuits of his new organization, there was never any bad blood.
Thielen has obviously watched Jefferson continue his ascent in the league, and as he has reached heights as the top wide receiver in the game, it’s hard not to be a fan of the development that has taken place. A hard worker and self made star in his own right, Thielen was quick to congratulate the Vikings wideout on his “well deserved” payday.
It was Thielen who got a front row seat to see the effort and work Jefferson was putting in on a daily basis, and the pair worked well in tandem. Thielen being a sure handed possession receiver with Jefferson being the explosive playmaker, Kirk Cousins had the best of both worlds during his time with the Vikings.
How Thielen fares this season with the Carolina Panthers remains to be seen. Obviously he is not getting any younger, and the skills have been diminishing for some time now, but he needs second year quarterback Bryce Young to step up in a big way. Last year’s first overall pick fell flat in year one, and if the Panthers are going to take steps forward as an organization it will be through the growth of the former Alabama product.
Jefferson received praise from those inside and out of the building when inking his deal Monday. Seeing it come from a teammate that is no longer with him, and one that he certainly had a connection with, is pretty special.
A Vikings Receiver Is Switching Positions in 2024
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.