Before signing with the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 offseason, Adam Thielen spent three years as a teammate of Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. They fed off one another well during their time together, and Jefferson's swag might have even rubbed off a bit on the 34-year-old Thielen.
On Sunday, the former Vikings receiver hauled in a last-second touchdown catch to give the Panthers a late lead in a Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and after scoring, he attempted the Griddy celebration that Jefferson has made famous during his NFL career.
BRYCE YOUNG TO ADAM THIELEN FOR THE LEAD WITH 30 SECONDS LEFT!
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/D35oRtmD8I
Former Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen has vintage performance in Carolina Panthers Week 13 loss
It's been a tough 2024 season for Thielen in his second year with Carolina, mostly due to a hamstring injury that he suffered in Week 3. Heading into Sunday, he had only caught a total of 11 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown this season.
But this weekend, in his second game back from injury, the former Minnesota pass-catcher put together a performance that was reminiscent of his best days in purple and gold, including an amazing one-handed catch in the overtime period of the contest.
ADAM THIELEN WOW
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/KNAGqBEbUk
Thielen finished Sunday's game with a team-leading eight catches for 99 yards and one score, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to help the Panthers get an overtime win over the Bucs.
Despite the loss, Thielen has to feel good about his performance this week. He's one of the oldest players in the NFL this year, but he proved on Sunday that he can still put up some solid numbers when Carolina needs him to.
Thielen signed a three-year deal with the Panthers in 2023, so his contract is set to expire in 2026. However, Carolina can free up more than $3.4 million in cap space and be left with a dead cap amount of only $5 million if they choose to move on from him during the upcoming offseason.
If that happens, you can bet your life on there being tons of speculation about Thielen returning to Minnesota to finish his career with the Vikings, especially with the videos from this summer of him working out with Minnesota rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.