Former Vikings WR Adam Thielen Has Found His Next Team
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings kicked off their offseason by releasing a couple fan-favorite veterans. LB Eric Kendricks already found a new team when free agency began by signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, and now, it appears that the former Vikings WR Adam Thielen has officially landed with a new team as well.
Thielen announced via an Instagram story that he is joining the Carolina Panthers, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported that the contract will be a three-year deal in Carolina.
The 32-year-old wide receiver joins a Panthers team that recently traded their leading receiver D.J. Moore and other draft picks in order to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears.
Reports that Thielen could join the Panthers began fluttering in throughout the week, and now, he officially joins the NFC South team presumably as a top target for whichever quarterback they draft with the top pick in April.
Thielen joined the Vikings back in 2013 as a undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State University-Mankato, and up until now, he had spent his entire 10-year NFL career in Minnesota. He spent that rookie season as a practice squad player but didn’t see any playing time.
However, as time progressed, he not only worked his way onto the roster and into the starting lineup, but he made the Pro Bowl twice in both 2017 and 2018.
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 playing career ranked third in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and third in receiving TDs in Vikings franchise history.
It won’t take long for the Vikings to see Thielen in a Panthers uniform, either. The two teams are set to square off during the 2023 regular season due to the NFC North and NFC South sharing a schedule this year.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. 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.