Detroit Lakes' Thielen On Playing With Vikings: 'It's Just Football'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's another Vikings preseason, which means another fight for roster spots. Adam Thielen knows the territory well.
Except, this time, he's there with the first team offense.
"It's good for me, because I get to go against the number one defense," Thielen said, "and I get to get a lot better that way, going against the best corner every day. And I'm getting a lot better because of that. Right now, it doesn't really matter if you're with the 1's or 2's. You've got to go out there and play your best and perform and get better each day."
That sounds a lot like what Mike Zimmer said when asked about it: "Don't read into it too much." So while it might not mean Thielen is a starter, it is, though, yet another sign of the way he's established himself on the Vikings roster -- and how far he's come from his first, to now his fourth training camp. From a hope and a prayer, to established NFL player.
He's a fan favorite because just about every Vikings fan knows Thielen's story. From Detroit Lakes High School, to Minnesota State Mankato, to a rookie tryout, to training camp, to the practice squad, to making the team, to... the starting lineup?
Even as the Vikings keep drafting receivers, Thielen keeps defying the odds.
"Maybe when I'm done playing and looking back at things I'll pinch myself a little bit," Thielen said. "But right now it's just football."
That's a typical Thielen answer, never willing to concede that he's made it, always continuing to work like he's on the bubble. Maybe that's his secret. No time for any "look how far I've come" reflection from him.
"No, no time for that," Thielen said. "I still have a long ways to go. I have big goals and aspirations, and I still have a long ways to go, so I've got to keep working and keep my mind straight and looking one day at a time."
That's how he got where he is. Why change his mentality now?
