Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has been around a ton of wide receivers during his nine-year career.
Thielen saw the growth of former Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who joined the team in 2015, and even saw how impactful Justin Jefferson can be first-hand.
Thielen, now with the Carolina Panthers, recently joined the Purple Insider podcast, where he offered praise for another Vikings wide receiver: K.J. Osborn.
“I think everyone’s been a little bit wrong about K.J. I just think that he is a WR1 in this league. And I think he has so much talent,” Thielen said. “I think his attitude and his effort, the way he approaches every single day, his mindset is one of the best I’ve ever been around.”
Osborn, a fifth-round pick in 2020, has been a reliable target for Kirk Cousins and the offense. Last season, the former Miami Hurricane surpassed the 600-yard mark for the second time in his career.
With Thielen no longer with the team, Osborn’s workload could increase next season, allowing him to have a more prominent role with the offense. While Thielen’s statement might be a little hyperbolic, expecting a better season from Osborn shouldn’t be too much to ask.
