Adam Thielen doesn't have to wait until Sunday's kickoff to feel the strange vibes.
After spending his first 10 NFL seasons playing for his hometown Vikings, Thielen will be on the Panthers' sideline when the Vikings visit Bank of America Stadium. He's quickly become a team captain and leader for a young Carolina locker room, and his preparation for the Panthers' next foe has brought back memories.
"It's already honestly a little weird watching tape," said Thielen, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who was released by the Vikings this offseason. "It's just crazy to be game planning against guys that were my teammates for a long time.