The Pittsburgh Steelers welcomed new wide receiver Adam Thielen to the field during Sunday’s key win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Following his release from the Minnesota Vikings, the Steelers moved quickly to claim Thielen. Throughout the season, Pittsburgh had been looking for some more veteran help at the position. Thielen presented a perfect opportunity.
At 35 years old, the Steelers are not expecting the former star version of Thielen. They’re simply hoping that he can be a solid and consistent presence for superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers to utilize occasionally.
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During his debut with Pittsburgh, Thielen caught one pass for four yards. He didn’t make much of an impact, but he is officially underway in his tenure with the team.
After the game was over, the veteran wideout spoke out with an emotional message. Joining the Steelers has helped him regain his love for the game of football.
“It was crazy. It’s been a wild week,” Thielen said. “I found my love for the game back, just being out there playing the game I love….just thankful to be out there and thrown into a huge game and rivalry.”
If Thielen can get back even a small piece of the player he was just a few short years ago, Pittsburgh may have gotten a major steal. He has been a solid No. 2 and borderline No. 1 wide receiver throughout his NFL career.
Since starting his career back in 2014 with the Vikings, Thielen has played in 174 career games. He has caught 694 passes for 8,384 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Just last season with the Carolina Panthers, Thielen was a consistent presence. He caught 48 passes for 615 yards and five touchdowns for the Panthers in 10 games.
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There is a chance that he could be exactly what the Steelers were needing. Rodgers has proven himself to still be more than capable of putting up huge numbers on any given day. Thielen should help him for the remainder of the season.
It’s quite possible that Thielen could be playing in his final season of professional football. Should that end up being the case, it sounds like he’s landed in a place where he can enjoy the final chapter of his career.
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