Adam Thielen is NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has been given the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Week award.

The NFL announced the weekly honor Wednesday for Thielen, the first Vikings winner this season. Blair Walsh and Cordarrelle Patterson each had one last year.

Thielen blocked a punt in the first quarter Sunday against Carolina and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, the first such play by the Vikings in 453 regular season games since 1986. Thielen also had two special teams tackles in the game and ranks third on the team with nine this year.

Later in the game, Everson Griffen returned a punt blocked by Jasper Brinkley 43 yards for a touchdown.

Thielen is a native of Detroit Lakes. He played at Minnesota State University.