Adam Thielen Remains the Best
Even after Adam Thielen has long since departed Minnesota and is now playing for the opposition in Carolina, he still remains invested in his hometown team. Showing off a workout with new Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy on his Instagram, it’s hard not to remain fond of such a fan favorite.
Adam Thielen Remains the Best
Regardless of how long Adam Thielen plays in the NFL or for whomever else he plays, it will always resonate that he is one of us. The Detroit Lakes native, Thielen, earned his way onto the Vikings from Minnesota State Mankato, turning in strong special teams performances that warranted a wide receiver role.
At his best, watching Thielen utilize incredible footwork and hands, he made up for a lack of top-end speed. Playing with Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson, Thielen was the constant that always showed up, produced, and went about it the right way. Seeing him leave for the Panthers was tough, but it was time and clear that he was on the downside of his career.
Although Thielen isn’t the same talent he was years ago, he has a wealth of football knowledge. Seeing him willing to share that with the Vikings’ new quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, is beyond exciting, and few people know how a rookie can take their lumps more than Thielen. Working with number one overall pick Bryce Young last season, the former Vikings wide receiver saw the first overall pick struggle.
It’s unlikely that McCarthy was having Thielen run routes or plays out of the Vikings’ playbook, but regardless of the information shared, the veteran could mentor the youngster. McCarthy shouldn’t be expected to start Week 1 or for a while thereafter, but anything Thielen can impart to him during their brief time crossing over in Minnesota would be beneficial.
McCarthy will need to continue developing chemistry with his wide receivers before he takes over under center. Thielen can be an asset to McCarthy’s growth, and you can bet that head coach Kevin O’Connell would be thrilled to have Thielen continue to pass on wisdom to his new signal caller.
Even if the brief interaction does not yield anything more, seeing the new face of the franchise and one of the greatest fan favorites working together is pretty fun.
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.
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