New video adds fuel to the Adam Thielen and J.J. McCarthy intrigue

Last month, former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen generated plenty of intrigue after posting a video clip on his Instagram account of him catching passes from his old team's rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.

On Wednesday, another video clip surfaced of Thielen and McCarthy working out together. This time, the clip wasn't posted on Thielen's personal account, but the new footage will surely still generate a ton of attention from the Vikings fan base.

Carolina Panthers WR Adam Thielen has been impressed with Minnesota Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy

Following the release of the initial clip of him catching passes from McCarthy, Thielen appeared on KFXN-FM radio earlier this week and shared how the young quarterback is "super accurate" and has a maturity that "goes beyond his age."

With the emergence of the second clip on Wednesday, it's clear that Thielen truly has enjoyed his time working out with McCarthy this summer.

Right now, both clips seem to be nothing more than a Minnesota native working out with a quarterback who is also in town. Coincidentally, that quarterback has just happened to be McCarthy, and that has, of course, led to Vikings fans thinking of possible scenarios that could result in Thielen putting on a purple and gold uniform again in the near future.

Thielen will turn 34 in August, and he's coming off a 2023 season in which he led the Panthers in targets (137), catches (103), and receiving yards (1,014), in addition to scoring four touchdowns.

He's still expected to be a notable part of Carolina's offense this year, but one could also argue the Panthers are already preparing for his possible departure in 2025 by trading for Pro Bowl receiver Diontae Johnson and using a first-round draft pick on former South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette earlier this offseason.

Unless a surprising trade happens, Thielen will likely be a member of the Panthers for at least one more year. After that, however, could the veteran receiver end up back in Minnesota to finish up his NFL career where it began?

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