Homegrown Minnesotan Adam Thielen adds to Vikings' legacy of star receivers

Jarrett Bell | USA TODAY

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No, the NFL stage isn't too big for Adam Thielen.

A few years ago, it was fair to wonder. He’s the local guy who attended Division II Minnesota State, whose showcase games came against the likes of Winona State and Sioux Falls.

There was no combine invite for Thielen. No draft selection. Just a serious long shot.

But now the favorite son of Detroit Lakes, Minn., is an NFL breakout star for the Minnesota Vikings and will be one of the league's featured Thanksgiving attractions.

“He’s not being overwhelmed as the local kid who made good,” Cris Carter, the Hall of Fame receiver, told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s lived up to the opportunity. He’s having a good time.”

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Thielen, 27, grew up a huge Vikings fan, idolizing Carter and Randy Moss. It’s striking that as he blows up in his fourth NFL season — Thielen ranks second in the NFL behind Antonio Brown with 916 receiving yards — he's producing numbers that put him in the same sentence as Moss, the only other Viking (2000, 2003) to gain 900 yards after 10 games. Furthermore, the tables have turned as Carter has become a huge fan of Thielen’s, witnessing his development from practice squad body to special teamer to role player to emerging star.

“He’s a mature player,” Carter said, alluding to the details that come with route running and techniques. “He does things the right way.”

Carter feels a certain connection to Thielen and the Vikings’ other impressive receiver, Stephon Diggs.

“I idolized Ahmad Rashad, Sammy White and Anthony Carter,” said Carter, referring to great Vikings receivers who preceded him.

“I used to explain that to Randy Moss and Jake Reed. We’re glad they’re able to live up to the tradition ... and pulling for them to do what we couldn’t do in delivering a championship.”

The Vikings (8-2) can take a huge step toward the NFC North crown by beating the second-place Detroit Lions (6-4) on Thursday. It seems fitting that Thielen has such a huge role on a team that lacks big names but has positioned itself as a legitimate contender nonetheless.

Since Thielen signed as an undrafted free agent in 2013, the Vikings have had two first-round receivers in the fold, Laquon Treadwell and since-departed Cordarrelle Patterson. Yet Thielen is the one who's had major impact. He’s scored a touchdown in three consecutive games and is the only player in the league to catch at least five balls in every game.

“He’s a good football player,” Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph said after Sunday’s win against the Rams, when Thielen caught six passes for 123 yards, including a back-breaking 65-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“He prepares really hard. He’s playing at a real high level right now. He’s fun to watch.”

Rudolph chuckled when recalling the long-distance touchdown, when Thielen ran a short slant pattern, then juked away from his defender before sprinting down the sideline.

“I worry about Adam,” Rudolph said. “He’s kind of slow. I didn’t know if he’d get all the way there. He put his head back like he was tired.”

Actually Thielen, who was caught from behind a week earlier on a catch during a win at Washington, was watching himself break away on the Vikings' huge video board.

“I always look up at the Jumbotron,” he said. “Last week I looked back, and it probably slowed me down. So I just looked forward and ran.”

The stereotype often attached to white receivers hasn’t escaped Thielen, despite his consistency. Sunday, someone asked if he still felt defenders are underestimating his speed.

“I don’t really know,” he said. “Honestly, I’m trying to beat the guy across from me. I think guys are starting to respect what I do and what this team is doing. Moving forward, we’ve just got to keep it rolling and keep getting better because teams will start to find of figure out what we like to do.”

Mike Zimmer surely has reset his expectations. Still surprised by Thielen, Coach?

“Used to, but he’s just a playmaker,” Zimmer said. “I think they named that show after him.”

That would be the short-lived football drama Playmakers, that aired on ESPN back in the day.

No, Thielen is starring in his own reality show.

“You’ve got to give Coach Zimmer a lot of credit,” Carter said. “People know him as a great defensive mind, but he probably doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to develop talent.”

Carter knows the history the Vikings have had while giving opportunities to Minnesotans. He pointed to examples that include former Pro Bowl center Matt Birk (St. Paul) and backup quarterback Todd Bouman (Ruthton), and current receiver Michael Floyd (St. Paul).

“They love to have that local flavor,” Carter said. “But very few times have they had players who were more than backup players or special teamers and became full-time starters.”

It’s a good story when they stick. And so much better if they can blossom like Thielen.

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Follow NFL columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell

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