The Minnesota Vikings reunited with wide receiver Adam Thielen via a trade with the Carolina Panthers at the end of August to mixed reviews from NFL fans and media.
Thielen was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2017 and 2018. He was also Justin Jefferson’s sidekick through the superstar wideout’s first three years in the league and served as something of a mentor during Jefferson’s climb to the top of the position.
The Vikings released Thielen in March of 2023, and he subsequently inked a three-year contract in Carolina worth $25 million. He played two years there, topping 1,000 receiving yards in 2023 and performing well when healthy last season, though ultimately missing seven games due to a hamstring strain.
Now back in Minnesota where he spent the first nine years of his career, Thielen will play this season at 35 years old and will fill in as WR2 for Jordan Addison, who the league suspended for three games due to violations of its code of conduct policy.
Jefferson spoke about Thielen’s return in an interview with D.J. Siddiqi of The Escapist, praising what Thielen can offer the offense and calling out his critics.
It’s not just me out there for teams to double and triple me and really take me out the game. Having Adam on the opposite side, a lot of people might look at his age and think he’s old, but he still can move. He still can create plays and create separation on his routes.
To be able to have that person, with Addison being out, to have another person on the opposite side to create that attention [is big]. And even if they don’t want to give him that much attention, he’s still on a one-on-one, and he’s able to create separation on that one-on-one opportunity.
Justin Jefferson Missed Vikings’ Entire Preseason With Hamstring Injury
GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jefferson dealt with hamstring issues of his own back in 2023, which cost him seven games that season. He was fully healthy in 2024, though a different hamstring injury kept him out of all three of Minnesota’s preseason contests last month.
Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported last week that Jefferson’s hamstring concern is one on which the team will keep a close eye all year long.
“This is going to be a long-term maintenance thing. He’s had enough hamstring [problems] at this point,” Goessling told KFAN on September 2. “He practices hard. He does not like to miss practice. I wonder if they would mitigate any of that? Hamstrings seem like a consistent enough issue for him that I think they are going to treat it with quite a bit of attention.”
Justin Jefferson Assures Fans He’s Healthy, Ready to Go Against Bears
GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite those reports and the fear that may have accompanied them, Jefferson told Siddiqi that he’s 100 percent ahead of the team’s season opener against the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.”
“Hamstring is feeling great. We definitely had a great plan throughout training camp of getting it stronger, getting the mobility back right,” Jefferson said. “I feel like the whole process went well, and I’m definitely ready for Week 1. I’m ready to rock and roll.”
Minnesota will travel to Soldier Field for their first matchup of the year on Monday, September 8. The Vikings are currently 1.5-point favorites on the road.
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