Inside The Vikings

Ex-Vikings Check-In: Adam Thielen is Having a Monster 2023 in Carolina

Thielen is on pace to set new career-highs in receptions and yards at age 33.

Will Ragatz

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Former Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, in his first season with a different team, is on pace to set new career highs in receptions and yards — at age 33. Thielen has been a major bright spot on a winless, rebuilding Panthers team, recording 100-yard games in three of his last four outings and a touchdown in four of the last five.

Across a full 17-game slate last season, Thielen averaged just 42.1 receiving yards per contest. It looked like Father Time had caught up to the future Ring of Honor inductee in his tenth year with the Vikings. Electing to get younger and cheaper at the position this offseason, Minnesota chose to release Thielen and replace him with first-round pick Jordan Addison.

A little over a week after being released, Thielen signed a three-year deal with the Panthers, who went on to draft Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick. The veteran wideout had a very slow start to his Carolina career, catching just two passes for 12 yards in the season opener. Since then, he's been on fire.

Thielen had 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Then he exploded for an 11-145-1 line against the Seahawks in Week 3. He caught seven passes for 76 yards against his former team in Week 4. His last two games? 11-107-1 against the Lions and 11-115-1 against the Dolphins last Sunday. It hasn't been enough to lead to any victories for the Panthers, but Thielen has been playing at an extremely high level as Young's No. 1 receiver.

Through six weeks, Thielen is tied with former teammate Stefon Diggs for third place in receptions with 49, one behind Ja'Marr Chase and Puka Nacua with 50. That puts him on pace for 139, which would shatter his career high of 113, set in 2017. He's tenth in the league with 509 receiving yards, putting him on pace for a career-high 1,442. Thielen is also one of nine players with at least four receiving touchdowns through six games — a group that also includes Addison.

Oh, and while the Vikings lead the NFL with 17 drops, Thielen leads the league in targets (59) without a single drop. Addison is off to a strong start to his career, so the Vikings don't necessarily regret moving on from Thielen, but the 33-year-old is playing some of the best football of his life with his new team. That's pretty cool to see.

Let's check in on a few other 2022 Vikings who are with new teams:

OLB Za'Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns

Smith doesn't have a sack yet, but he has 17 pressures and five QB hits in five games as a valuable member of the league's best defense. The Browns are 3-2 despite Deshaun Watson missing a couple games because they have, far and away, the No. 1 defense in the league by DVOA and opponent EPA per play.

DT Dalvin Tomlinson, Cleveland Browns

Tomlinson is also doing his usual thing up front for that elite Browns defense. He leads their defensive tackle room in snaps, playing about 35 per game.

CB Patrick Peterson, Pittsburgh Steelers

It's been a somewhat slow start to the season for the 33-year-old Peterson, who ranks 50th in PFF grade out of 77 corners with at least 200 snaps (though he's never been very fond of PFF's ability to evaluate cornerback play). Peterson got career interception No. 35 in Week 3, breaking a tie with Harrison Smith (0 INT this season) for the lead among active players.

RB Dalvin Cook, New York Jets

Things have not gone to plan for Cook to start his post-Vikings career. He has just 155 yards, no touchdowns, and a fumble on 48 touches this season. Among 41 running backs with at least 35 carries, he ranks dead last in rush yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. After seeing 16 touches in the Jets' opener, he's had six or less in four of the last five games, including just four in New York's surprise win over the Eagles on Sunday.

TE Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals

Smith is another player who is struggling with his new team. He's played in four games this season with just six catches for 32 yards.

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Will Ragatz
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