Vikings QB Kirk Cousins apologizes to Adam Thielen for missing him on throws
Through the first four weeks of the season, the NFC North's four teams are making a case as the most-improved, and perhaps best, division in football.
The Minnesota Vikings, at 2-2, occupy the basement of the division presently. Following a 16-6 loss at the hands of the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Adam Thielen called out the need for quarterback Kirk Cousins and the deep passing game to step up.
Cousins apologized to Thielen and the rest of the receiving corps on his weekly radio show on KFAN for missing downfield throws that could have led to big plays.
"I really want to apologize to (Thielen) because there's too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday," Cousins said, according to ESPN. "And I talk to the media, I always say until I watch the film, it's hard for me to really give you a straight answer. Well, now it's Tuesday night. I've watched the film. And the reality is there were opportunities for him."
Thielen was Cousins' guest on the show this week and wanted to clarify his previous comments — he insisted he was speaking in a broad sense and not critiquing any player or coach.
"I think it's interesting how media or fans take things that you say and make it what they want it to be," Thielen said. "I don't think I could say anything more generic that any offense would say. You can't be one-dimensional in this league. It's very, very, very difficult to win. If you listen to defensive coordinators talk, they want to make the offense one-dimensional, and that's how they want to win."
Thielen had two catches for six yards on six targets for his lowest offensive output since 2015. He was coming off a two-touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders.
Cousins, who ranks 32nd in QBR and leads a passing attack ranked 21st in DVOA, knows he must improve and feed his receivers, especially Thielen.
"Adam's not just a really good player or one of the best players on the Vikings," Cousins said. "He's one of the best players in the NFL, one of the best players in the world, period, regardless of position. We want to, we need to — and when I saw 'we,' really I mean I need to — get him more opportunities, get him the football."