MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Adam Thielen wasn’t even in high school yet when Larry Fitzgerald entered the NFL in 2004 with Arizona with the acclaim of the third overall pick in the draft.
Nine years later, Thielen needed a rookie tryout camp with Minnesota just to earn a roster spot. It took a season on the practice squad and two more years spent mostly on special teams to set him up to break out as one of the league’s best wide receivers — and underdog stories.
With Fitzgerald’s impeccable career with the Cardinals (1-4) winding down, Thielen’s has just begun to take off with the Vikings (2-2-1).