Vikings’ Adam Thielen taken out at costly moment for concussion protocol

Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver Adam Thielen took a bad enough hit yesterday that it made NFL officials pull him from the field. But, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Pioneer Press states on 3rd-and-10, Thielen collided with LA Rams Cory Littleton’s forearm and knee as he fell to the ground. It was a bad enough hit that Thielen stayed on the ground for a few seconds after, but he was able to stand on his own and line up for the next play.

But the independent spotter that is working with the NFL saw enough to want to pull Thielen from the game before the start of the next play for an “evaluation of a potential concussion.”

And that left Thielen upset, to say the least.

As he was walked off by NFL officials Thielen was arguing and clearly not trying to leave the field so Vikings medical staff came to walk him into the medical tent.

While the next play lead to a punt which is terrible, but probably didn’t make or break the game. Thielen eventually redeemed himself with a touchdown.

Thielen said after the game, “It’s that new rule where if they see something upstairs they’ll make you come out. I was just frustrated because it was a third down, we had a good play called up. I felt fine. I didn’t get dinged up at all.”

But in a game where Trae Waynes was taken out in the first half with a concussion it is always better to err on the side of caution. We still have a lot of season left and every player is needed.