The bye week is here for the Minnesota Vikings, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The team has won six of their last seven games, and four of their last five without their star receiver.
Adam Thielen injured his hamstring while scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 7, and tried to come back too early against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. The Vikings have played well without Thielen, but there have been moments his absence has limited the offense.
During the recording of Under Center on Monday Morning with Kirk Cousins and Mark Rosen, Cousins said the team will be getting its receiver back when the team travels to Seattle.
@KirkCousins8 said without hesitation on Under Center, Adam Thielen will be ready to play in Seattle following the bye week
— Mark Rosen (@KFANRosen) November 18, 2019
While Thielen has been a go-to target for Cousins, and proven that he is a top ten receiver in the NFL, other names have stepped up in his absence.
The Vikings wouldn’t be sitting at 8-3 if it wasn’t for the recent explosion of the tight end position. Both Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. have made big play after big play. Bisi Johnson has proven he is a legitimate third wide receiver and Stefon Diggs has continued to gash defenses with his elite route running. The pass catching group has proven that they can hold their own, even without one of the leagues best over the last five weeks.
Not only did the receivers prove they have more depth than originally believed, but the running back tandem of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison have proven that they are one of the top one-two punches in the league. The two have combined for 1, 411 yards, providing one of the most balanced attacks in the NFL.
Adding Thielen back into this mix, alongside a quarterback that has entered the MVP conversation, is a recipe for even more success for the Vikings offense. In the Mike Zimmer era, the team has prided itself of a strong defense. The defense will need to continue to improve, but it looks as if the offense is the strong suit to the 2019 Vikings.