Minnesota Vikings rookie Adam Thielen was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Wednesday for his outstanding performance in the Vikings’ 31-13 win over Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
https://twitter.com/FanSidedGIF/status/539124216264933376
Thielen blocked a punt, grabbed the loose football with one hand and ran into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. It was the first of two blocked punts returned for touchdowns in the game. Everson Griffen scored minutes later in the first quarter on a punt block by Jasper Brinkley.
According to Viking Update, it was only the fifth time in league history a team has blocked two punts for touchdowns in the same game.
The award is the first of Thielen’s career; and it’s sending a bit of a pulse through Minnesota because he’s a Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, native and played his college football at Minnesota State-Mankato.
Congrats fmr Minn State WR @athielen19 | @nfl Special Teams Player of Week. #OnceAMaverickAlwaysAMaverick @NCAADII pic.twitter.com/x27srWyjEc
— Minn. St. Athletics (@MinnStAthletics) December 3, 2014
Even the National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is applauding Thielen.
Congrats @vikings @athielen19 on being named NFC Special Teams Player of Week. Adam helped us with winter weather safety PSA's!
— NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) December 3, 2014
.@athielen19's blocked punt returned for a TD was the first in #Vikings history since 10/12/86. #MrMankato
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 30, 2014
