Thielen Continues to Impress for Minnesota
Ted Schwerzler
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The Minnesota Vikings currently employ one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. While Justin Jefferson is the headline grabber, there’s nothing stopping fans from appreciating what Adam Thielen has become either. Even as he now is an aging veteran, Thielen continues to impress for Minnesota in 2022.
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It took Adam Thielen two years before he was able to contribute much at the NFL level. Coming out of Division 2 Minnesota State Mankato as an undrafted rookie, the Vikings used him as little more than a special teams player. It may have been the blocked punt that put him on the national map, but he was making moves well before then.
Although he does stand 6’2”, Thielen is not a big-bodied wide receiver or someone that can torch the defense. Even dating back to his college days, his excellence has always come through technique. He has exceptional footwork, runs great routes, and has upper echelon hands. He is a self-made talent and that has continued to allow him opportunity even now nine years into his professional career.
As the Minnesota Vikings have looked to explore additional pass catching targets for Kirk Cousins, Thielen has been noted as having lost a step. While that is probably fair for a guy who is now 32-years-old, he certainly hasn’t wavered on the skills that got him here. Hauling in passes and limiting drops has always been an asset for the kid from Detroit Lakes, and that’s no different in 2022.
Of the players without a drop this season, no one has more targets from the group than Thielen. Although his total production has dropped off some with Jefferson being the preferred option for Cousins, Thielen remains as reliable as ever. He continues to convert in key situations, and he has still been capable of making big plays.
For a guy that came out of nowhere, creating a ten-year NFL career takes substantial work. Thielen has continued to put that in and reinvent himself to stay relevant amidst a league that has highlighted pass catchers in recent seasons. He should be expected to remain with Minnesota next season, and there’s little doubt that he’d prefer to end his career here as well.
Maybe next year he continues to lose another step and is knocked further down the depth chart, but for now, Cousins will continue to be thankful he has a veteran safety blanket. Thielen is more than fine with allowing Jefferson to rack up the accolades, and while he does, the savvy veteran can be the smooth operator on the other side.
It remains to be seen if the drop numbers will stay at zero throughout a full 17 game season but getting through the first 13 tilts and being here is impressive in its own right. It’s never been difficult to pull for Thielen, and each new feat he accomplishes only makes it that much easier.
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.