Nelson Thielen

Orlando

Remember that annoying kid in your high school youth group? He’s all grown up. Go #Vikings. Go #Seminoles. I write about the Vikings for https://t.co/Sr962tDeIO

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Articles

J.J. McCarthy's Primetime Debut Has All The Pressure Of A First Impression

1 week ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

Is there anything harder to overcome than a bad first impression? The first time I met my wife was at a party in high school. The party was “glow in the dark” themed, and the host tasked me with taking this can of glow-in-the-dark hairspray and spraying it in people’s hair so they’d glow when the lights went off. My wife, who’d painstakingly worked on her hair for hours before the event, was greeted as she came through the door with me spraying a bunch of radioactive-looking chemicals in her hair.
Dallas Turner Could Become A Force Multiplier For Minnesota's Defense

2 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

I’m not an overly patient person. Instant gratification is much more satisfying, particularly in sports. Think about how much more fun the Justin Jefferson experience was from the jump for Minnesota Vikings fans compared to the slow ramp-up Green Bay Packers fans had with Davante Adams. Without a doubt, both ended up as elite players. Still, while Adams was inconsistent and had drops early in his career, Jefferson was the runner-up for Rookie Of the Year.
Brian Flores Must Accommodate For Minnesota's Achilles Heel Again

2 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

Do you think Achilles ever changed his stance or his style of fighting to try and protect his heel? In the Iliad, the hero Achilles’ mother dipped him into the River Styx, rendering him invulnerable — except for his heel, where she held him. Later, an arrow that hit his infamous “Achilles’ heel” killed him. That’s gotta be a tough way to finally go down.
The Vikings Veterans Showed Out For J.J. McCarthy, and That Means Something

4 weeks ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

We’ve officially reached the point of the offseason where it would be impossible to explain to someone like my wife what the differences between the various practice phases mean. My wife loves watching football during the season and will even humor me when I rant endlessly about free agency or the draft. She easily understands the concept of training camp. But rookie minicamp? Mandatory minicamp? Organized team activities?
Are the Vikings Battle-Tested Enough To Win In The Postseason?

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

I am just about the most casual, bandwagon Minnesota Timberwolves fan in human history. I’m essentially the equivalent of your midwestern, suburban mom leaning in to check on the score from the kitchen while I’m busy working on my tater tot casserole. I understand nothing about the nuances of basketball.
How You Feel About the Vikings’ International Stint in 2025 Is A Rorschach Test For Your Fandom

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

Fandom is a fascinating phenomenon. Most of us decide to like a team as children, maybe because of a favorite player or family ties, and then proceed to let it have complete and full control of our mental state every weekend for 18 weeks of the year. And that’s not even including the offseason and draft. This can mean a difficult relationship with your fandom, particularly those of us who somehow ended up as Minnesota Vikings fans. There are many types of fans.
How Long Will the Vikings Keep People Waiting For 'Purple Smoke' On J.J. McCarthy?

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

As a lifelong Catholic and devout Minnesota Vikings follower, it’s interesting to see the world suddenly become so invested in this thing I love. That is, unless they’re doing something particularly scandalous or embarrassing. I’m speaking, of course, about the Minnesota Vikings, with a quarterback conundrum that’s apparently as riddled with all the drama and secrecy of the Papal Conclave.
Donovan Jackson Paves the Way For J.J. McCarthy

2 months ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen

I almost can’t bring myself to type the words. It feels crazy to say. How many times over the last decade and a half of Minnesota Vikings football have fans and analysts lamented the offensive line woes above all else? How many times have you seen the comment Can he play guard? under any free-agent signing or draft pick? Well, Donovan Jackson can indeed play guard, and he might have just cemented a top-five offensive line in all of football.
Minnesota Is the Perfect Place For Walter Nolen To Reach His Sky High Potential

2 months ago | zonecoverage.com | Nelson Thielen |Cole Smith |Joshua Badroos |Wyatt Wade

What’s your favorite NFL draft “character concern” story? I’m not talking about something genuinely horrific, like domestic violence or drunk driving. I’m talking about the weird stuff. Robert Nkemdiche out of the window. Laremy Tunsil’s gas mask bong. Will Levis putting mayo in his coffee and eating bananas with the peel on. The reality of the NFL draft is that these franchises spend a lot of time and money trying to vet and learn everything they possibly can about these guys.
Why Is the National Media Still Pushing the Rodgers-To-Minnesota Narrative?

Mar 29, 2025 | zonecoverage.com | Chris Schad |Preet Mukesh Shah |John Boyd |Nelson Thielen

The saga between the Minnesota Vikings and Aaron Rodgers will not die. One week after the Vikings seemingly closed the door on an unholy alliance, Rodgers slinked his way through the Pittsburgh Steelers facility and right back into Kevin O’Connell‘s ear. The past week didn’t do anything to calm anyone’s fears. J.J. McCarthy told Kay Adams that the Vikings haven’t told him he’s their starting quarterback.