Alec Lewis
@alec_lewis
·
3m
The Vikings’ captains: Brian O’Neill, Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Justin Jefferson, Andrew DePaola, Aaron Jones, Jonathan Greenard and J.J. McCarthy

Ben Goessling
@BenGoessling
·
5m
New #Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz: “You walk down the halls, and see [pictures of] all the guys you grew up cheering for. It’s definitely cool to be back.”

Vikings bring back WR Thielen from Panthers
Vikings get: WR Adam Thielen, conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick
Panthers get: 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick

Vikings grade: A-
Panthers grade: C+

The Vikings have re-united with their longtime receiver Adam Thielen. Assuming the conditions of the 2026 pick headed to Minnesota are met, the Vikings will have moved back two rounds in next year's draft and one round in 2027's draft to acquire the single year remaining on the 35-year-old receiver's contract.

This is fine business. The Vikings' receiver depth will be tested early this season, as WR3 speedster Jalen Nailor recovers from a hand injury and WR2 Jordan Addison serves a three-game suspension. Depth receiver Rondale Moore had a season-ending knee injury early this offseason, leaving rookie Tai Felton and veteran Tim Jones as the depth behind Justin Jefferson to start the season. Thielen should slot right into a familiar offense and provide a good safety blanket for young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who needs strong early performances in September to boost his confidence and generate some positive momentum. I like the deal a lot for that reason: McCarthy won't spend the first three starts of his NFL career endeavoring to make up for bad receiver play.

This is actually a bigger risk for the Panthers than it appears. From Week 8 on last season -- the stretch in which quarterback Bryce Young came back and looked solid -- Thielen was the Panthers' best receiver. Sure, guys like Jalen Coker and Ja'Tavion Sanders were having breakout games, and the backs were getting involved as pass catchers, but it was Thielen who drove the ship. Thielen averaged 2.47 yards per route run in that stretch, which was the 14th best number in the NFL. He also caught 80% of his targets when Coker and Xavier Legette caught 63.2% and 56.4%, respectively. Thielen was so valuable that the Panthers gave him a raise in March worth $1.5 million to encourage him to stave off retirement.

The drafting of first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan always foretold a decrease in target share for Thielen. But keeping Thielen around for another year would have helped smooth the transition. Now the Panthers enter the season with a starting receiver trio (McMillan, Coker and Legette) full of big-play potential but no proven chemistry with Young over the middle of the field. That's an important cornerstone of the Panthers' offensive system that needs replacing. -- Solak

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/20...ion-death/

Sam Fortier @Sam4TR
Breaking: NFL owner Jim Irsay secretly relapsed, got ketamine from 'luxury' doctor before death.

➡️ Irsay and Colts execs misled the public
➡️ Irsay overdosed three times between 2020 and May death
➡️ Serious concerns raised about his doctor’s care

These doctors prescribing Ketamine for drug addict clients, man. Just ATM machines for these shady Drs.

Vikings Central
@VikesCentral
·
1h
We will most likely hear from:

- Kevin O’Connell
- Kwesi Odofo-Mensah
- Adam Thielen
- Carson Wentz

At some point today.

I don't know about this "unwritten rule" thing but we talked a bit about Willie Lampkin before the draft. AT 5-10, 270 lbs, he would've been, and now is, the smallest offensive linemen in the NFL, probably NFL history, certainly the modern era. Stood out for the Rams all preseason. Now Howie gets him. 

Anyone?

CHARLOTTE — The Panthers parlayed their depth at wide receiver and ability to develop there into a deal that adds to their future draft capital.

Wednesday morning, the team agreed to trade veteran wideout Adam Thielen to the Vikings for a collection of future picks.

The Panthers will receive a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder from the Vikings.

They'll give the Vikings Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-rounder, and a 2027 fifth-rounder.

That's effectively the value of a fourth-round pick, which the Vikings didn't have at the moment.

Thielen, who just turned 35, caught 103 passes for the Panthers in 2023, after signing here as a free agent. Despite missing seven games with a hamstring injury last year, he added another 48 catches for 615 yards and five touchdowns.

He spent his first nine seasons with the Vikings, catching 534 passes for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns, and going to two Pro Bowls.

The Panthers kept seven wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster.

They still have first-round picks Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan, along with Jalen Coker, David Moore, Brycen Tremayne, and Jimmy Horn Jr..

Didn't really pay much attention to Adam in Carolina, but the tape shows he was still moving well. I've seen some great athletes hit their mid-30s and look like they're running in molasses. The hands are still there (check the insane one-handed catch at 2:58). He pulled a hammy in week 3 and didn't return until later in the year. Injuries are always going to be a concern at that age. But Jerry Rice played into his 40s. Who knows, maybe 19's got something left in the tank.