Adam Thielen Recorded His First NFL Catch as a Panther This Weekend
This offseason, the Minnesota Vikings parted ways with one of the biggest underdog stories in NFL history.
Adam Thielen, a former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State University turned NFL Pro Bowler, was released by the Vikings this spring and signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Over the weekend, Thielen made his preseason debut with his new team, and while the Panthers may have lost to the New York Jets by a score of 27-0, the former Vikings receiver made his first NFL reception in a jersey that didn’t say “Vikings”.
Thielen’s grab came on Carolina’s first drive of the game, and it was actually rookie QB Bryce Young’s first career throw in an NFL game. The connection was an 8-yard reception that gave the Panthers a first down. In all, Thielen played eight snaps during his first game with his new team.
The former Vikings receiver was a crucial part of the Vikings offense for many years, and despite spending his rookie season as a practice squad guy, he quickly rose through the ranks of Minnesota’s depth chart. He appeard in all 16 games for the Vikings in 2014, making two starts and recording 8 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.
As time went on, it became apparent just how special Thielen was in Minnesota’s offense. He was named to the Pro Bowl in both 2017 and 2018, recording over 1250 receiving yards in each season.
Overall, Thielen appeared in 135 regular-season games for the Vikings throughout his career there, including 101 starts. He recorded 534 receptions, 6682 yards, and 55 TDs for Minnesota. He finished his Vikings career ranked third in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and third in receiving TDs in Vikings franchise history.
Now, the veteran wide receiver looks to lead a young Panthers offense that is hoping to make noise in the NFC South this year. They’ve acquired their hopeful franchise QB in Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 Draft, and Thielen’s presence will make things much easier on the rookie this upcoming season.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.