The Pittsburgh Steelers made a few notable changes to their wide receiver room ahead of their Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Mike Tomlin elected to elevate Marquez Valdes-Scantling from the practice squad while making 2024 third-round pick, Roman Wilson, a healthy scratch. The Steelers also thrust newcomer Adam Thielen into action.
Thielen, a 35-year-old veteran wide receiver, had been with the Steelers for just a few days after his request to be released from the Minnesota Vikings was granted. While the long-time wideout caught just one pass for four yards in Pittsburgh's big road win, Thielen made it clear that a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered.
Thielen spoke to the media about his Steelers debut. And while he admitted that it was a wild week, the former Pro Bowl receiver also found new life on a possible playoff team.
"I got my love for the game back being out there and being able to play the game that I love."
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen got his spark back after spurning the Minnesota Vikings
In the final stages of his NFL career, Thielen made it clear that he didn't want to finish things up with a team going nowhere fast. In his first 11 games with the Vikings in 2024, Thielen earned just eight receptions on 18 targets for 69 yards while mustering up a mere 10 total yards after the catch.
With second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggling, and with Minnesota essentially eliminated from playoff contention, Thielen's request for his release was granted.
While he hardly made an impact in his first showing with the Steelers, Thielen showed no qualms with his role in his first action with Pittsburgh. The former Pro Bowler earned 25 snaps just days after signing with his new team, and already operated as the Steelers' number two receiver, in terms of total snap counts (25 snaps compared to 16 each for Calvin Austin III and Marquez Valdes-Scantling).
Considering his age and the fact that he was a non-factor for most of the season in Minnesota, Pittsburgh Steelers fans shouldn't have sky-high hopes for what Adam Thielen will bring to the table. At this stage of his career, it might be hard for him to create separation or come up with explosive plays like the ones we saw from him in his best seasons in 2017 and 2018.
Regardless, Thielen is buying into the program so far, as his love for the game is back. We'll see how long that lasts if he doesn't become a focal point of the Steelers' offense.