History Repeats Itself for Adam Thielen
The man tends to get injured on touchdowns.
History Repeats Itself for Adam Thielen
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, now a member of the Carolina Panthers, hauled a touchdown pass out of the sky Sunday at the Las Vegas Raiders and injured his hamstring. The same thing happened in October 2019 with the Vikings on a touchdown transaction when Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain and missed six games.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, “Source: The Panthers are placing WR Adam Thielen on Injured Reserve because of the hamstring injury he suffered on Sunday. But Thielen is expected back sooner rather than later.”
This was the touchdown — and injury:
The Panthers are expected to promote wideout Jalen Coker from the practice squad in Thielen’s stead.
This was the touchdown-injury play five years ago:
Thielen had found immediate chemistry with quarterback Andy Dalton, who took over for recently benched Bryce Young last week. He had banked 3 receptions for 40 yards at Las Vegas before the injury. And Carolina ended up winning its first game of the season after a week of pundits calling the Panthers the worst team in football. Dave Canales’ team might’ve merely needed the quarterback switch-up.
The hamstring injury is considered severe for Thielen, and at age 34, the development is not encouraging. Without Thielen, Canales and Dalton will lean on this WR corps:
- Diontae Johnson
- Xavier Legette
- Jonathan Mingo
- David Moore
- Jalen Coker
- Praise Olatoke (Practice Squad)
- Deon Cain (Practice Squad)
Oddly, Thielen sounded upbeat after the win over Las Vegas. “We made a mindset that we’re going to go out there and put our best foot forward and see what happens,” Thielen told reporters. “And obviously, Andy did a great job of just communicating and leading us and starting fast. That was his message to us. Like we’ve got to go start fast, and he was able to lead that first drive and get the momentum.”
“I mean, I think when you go and score early, that’s a huge help. But yeah, his communication, his confidence, and then again, just being able to start fast, and he really controlled that by the way that he played,” he added.
Thielen is the Vikings third-leading receiver in catches (534), third in receiving touchdowns (55), and fourth in receiving yards (6,682) throughout franchise history.
Justin Jefferson suffered an injury similar to Thielen’s in 2023 and missed seven games.
Carolina has a 10% chance to reach the postseason, according to oddsmakers.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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