New Steelers WR Adam Thielen acknowledged Thursday that Pittsburgh was on his radar for desired destinations when requesting his release. They likely weren’t on the top of the list, but they do fill some minimum requirements. Odds are, they have opportunities for him to play, which is a big factor. And they do have a chance of making the postseason.
Asked specifically if the Steelers were on his radar, Thielen said they were, “for sure”, via the team’s website. “The situation that we’re in, and the opportunity to come and make an impact. But there’s so much out of your control at that point, so just trying to talk to my agent, get a grasp for what teams had needs at that position, and see what happened”.
Adam Thielen turned 35 in August, now in his 12th NFL season. Having spent most of his career with the Vikings, he returned there this summer. But as his role, and their playoff hopes, diminished, he asked for his release. Minnesota granted it, as he explained he wanted to be able to contribute to a team in what is likely his final season.
A year ago, as the Steelers were searching for wide receiver help, Adam Thielen was a name they explored. Asked about that trade interest, he confirmed that he was aware of Pittsburgh sniffing around. “At that point, they must have had a belief in what I could do, what I could bring. So it makes me feel really good about being here”, he said.
A former Pro Bowler, Thielen has 693 career receptions for 8,380 yards and 64 touchdowns. This season in Minnesota, he caught just 8 passes for 69 yards. But he believes he still has plenty he can contribute to the Steelers.
And considering Aaron Rodgers’ weekly mentions of the fact that nobody is getting open for him, I would imagine the Steelers have plans to get him on the field. After all, they put him on the podium, which they don’t do for depth-chart fillers. The question is how quickly they can get Thielen going, picking up a new offense on the fly.
The Steelers and their fans would be wise to temper expectations for what Adam Thielen will bring to the table. I don’t think teams are going to stop double-covering DK Metcalf just because he’s on the field. Yes, he should be able to actually, you know, get open and make himself an available target. But not many players age gracefully, and this is not the offense in which to do it.
After all, last year, they traded a fifth-round pick for Mike Williams last season, and they barely targeted him. The Steelers merely claimed Thielen off waivers, so there isn’t much commitment there. He may have requested his release to find more playing time, but Pittsburgh is under no obligation to grant him that.
