Adam Thielen hosted Panthers wide receivers and Bryce Young at his home in Minnesota this offseason.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β There is nothing like a day at the lake to bring people together, bring out the laughs and the fun. It was no different for the Panthers receivers, who spent a few days in Minnesota at veteran Adam Thielen’s home.
Thielen pitched the idea to quarterback Bryce Young about hosting a group of the Panthers’ wide receivers at his home for a retreat. Young was instrumental in setting the trip up, inviting rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr., among others.Β
The Panthers worked out at Woodbury High School, a field familiar to the Thielens. While Adam has trained at that field every summer, Adam’s wife, Caitlin, played soccer in high school and was part of state championship teams.Β
“Hopefully we rub some of that championship mentality onto the group,” said Thielen.
Getting time to work with Bryce Young ahead of training camp allowed a level of trust to form early on.
“Just help you bond and trust each other, and that stuff carries over into games,” said Thielen. When things get stressful, when things get tough, you’ve got to be able to understand them. Coming into training camp now, you have a little more comfortability with that group and who you’re around every day.”
A trip to Minnesota would not be complete without a day on the water, with Thielen introducing his teammates to wakesurfing.Β
“I think I probably had the most fun of everybody. Being able to be in that role, having guys at the house, having guys where I’m from, and kinda doing those things that I’ve always really enjoyed. We had a great time, that was just kind of laid back, getting to know each other on a different level and really just enjoying time together. Doing some things that are maybe outside of some people’s comfort levels.”
That includes Xavier Legette, whose reaction to getting off the boat and into the water on the lake day went viral.
“I don’t think that will ever happen again,” Thielen laughed when thinking about Legette’s experience. “It was cool that he at least tried it because he wasn’t going to get in the boat to start with. The fact that he actually got in the water a little bit, I wouldn’t necessarily say he got in the water, it says a lot about him. He’s out there, he’s gonna try it even though he did not want to be there. He was out there with the guys and bonding.”
“I think that says a lot about him, all jokes aside. It says a lot about his character, like, he was not comfortable at all. He did not want to be on that boat, especially when he saw it. It wasn’t a yacht it was a little boat. I think it just says a lot about his character that he was willing to step out of his comfort zone,” Thielen said.
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