Adam Thielen played nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. In purple, he collecting 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns on 534 receptions. Now 33-years-old (going on 34), the Mankato State legend is entering his second straight season with the Carolina Panthers.
Last week, Thielen posted a video on Instagram of a workout session he had with Vikings rookie QB JJ McCarthy. Unsurprisingly, it sparked Minnesota sports fans into talk about the possibility that Adam might force his way back home, where his favorite professional football team needs a WR3 (and could use a wise veteran to help mentor Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison).
Adam Thielen posts another workout video with Minnesota Vikings rookie JJ McCarthy
Now, let’s keep it real. It’s highly unlikely Adam Thielen is wearing purple come week one of the NFL season. With that being said, Thielen did very little to squash rumors on Wednesday when he posted another workout session with McCarthy. And this time, it appears they invited CJ Ham too.
McCarthy is mostly sticking around the Eagan area during this break between minicamp and training camp, even though he is yet to sign his rookie contract. Adam Thielen has lived in Minnesota his entire life, and certainly isn’t going to change that in the summertime.
Unless the Carolina Panthers were to surprisingly cut Adam Thielen, which isn’t going to happen because they’d have to pay an 8-figure dead cap penalty, it’s highly unlikely that he ends up back with the Vikings in 2024-25. Next season, when he is more likely to hit the open market, then maybe.
Meanwhile, I’d imagine the Panthers will happily accept everything that Adam brings to a football team, including production. In Carolina last season, Thielen put up 1,014 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on 103 receptions, his most yards and receptions since 2018.
