The Minnesota Vikings’ first leg of their two-week international trip ended in disappointment with a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin. While the defeat stung, the game’s snap counts revealed a more surprising narrative: two franchise legends, Adam Thielen and Harrison Smith, were relegated to shockingly limited roles. Let’s dive into the numbers and explore what these decisions mean for the Vikings moving forward.
Offensive Snap Counts: A Franchise Icon Sidelined
The Vikings’ offense was on the field for 76 snaps against the Steelers, but the distribution of playing time raised eyebrows, particularly for wide receiver Adam Thielen. Here’s a breakdown of the offensive snap counts:
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LT Christian Darrisaw, QB Carson Wentz, LG Blake Brandel, WR Justin Jefferson, RG Will Fries: 76 snaps
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WR Jordan Addison: 73 snaps
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TE T.J. Hockenson: 71 snaps
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RT Justin Skule: 65 snaps
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WR Jalen Nailor: 48 snaps
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RB Jordan Mason: 47 snaps
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C Michael Jurgens: 42 snaps
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C Ryan Kelly: 34 snaps
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RB Zavier Scott: 29 snaps
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TE Josh Oliver: 21 snaps
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WR Adam Thielen: 12 snaps
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RT Brian O’Neill: 11 snaps
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TE Nick Vannett: 3 snaps
The most glaring takeaway? Adam Thielen, a Vikings legend who was acquired at a significant draft cost, played just 12 snaps—16% of the total offensive plays. Despite catching two passes for 11 yards, both converting crucial third downs, Thielen’s role was shockingly minimal. With Jordan Addison back from suspension, Jalen Nailor clearly claimed the WR3 spot, leaving Thielen as the No. 4 receiver.
Thielen’s reduced role is particularly striking given his performance over the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he averaged 38.3 snaps per game in the three weeks without Addison. Four weeks into the 2025 season, Thielen has just four receptions for 37 yards and a two-point conversion. Even more telling, the Vikings opted to use running back Zavier Scott in four-wide receiver sets late in the game, with Scott lining up as the WR4 instead of Thielen. Scott, a hybrid RB/WR, caught six passes for 43 yards and a touchdown but failed to haul in a critical target in the final minute that could have set up a game-tying field goal attempt.
Injuries along the offensive line further complicated matters. Right tackle Brian O’Neill exited with a knee injury, and center Ryan Kelly suffered another concussion, potentially thrusting Justin Skule and Michael Jurgens into larger roles against the Cleveland Browns next week. Meanwhile, Cam Akers was elevated to the gameday roster but saw no offensive snaps, underscoring the team’s reliance on Scott’s versatility.
Is this the new norm for the 35-year-old Thielen, who still seemed to have plenty left in the tank? The Vikings’ decision to prioritize younger players like Nailor and Scott raises questions about Thielen’s future role.
Defensive Snap Counts: Another Legend on the Margins
The defensive side of the ball told a similarly surprising story, with a tight rotation and another franchise icon, safety Harrison Smith, seeing limited action. Here are the defensive snap counts from the Steelers game (out of 53):
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S Theo Jackson, S Josh Metellus, LB Eric Wilson, OLB Dallas Turner: 53 snaps
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CB Byron Murphy Jr.: 52 snaps
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CB Isaiah Rodgers: 51 snaps
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OLB Jonathan Greenard, DT Jonathan Allen: 48 snaps
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LB Ivan Pace Jr.: 41 snaps
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DT Javon Hargrave: 40 snaps
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DT Jalen Redmond: 36 snaps
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S Harrison Smith: 17 snaps
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DT Levi Drake Rodriguez: 16 snaps
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DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins: 9 snaps
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CB Jeff Okudah: 7 snaps
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OLB Bo Richter, DT Elijah Williams: 3 snaps
The Vikings leaned heavily on a core group of defenders, with four players—Jackson, Metellus, Wilson, and Turner—playing every snap. Wilson and Turner filled in admirably for Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel, while four others logged over 90% of the snaps. However, Harrison Smith, the team’s longest-tenured player and a defensive cornerstone, played just 17 snaps, a mere 32% of the defensive total. This follows a trend from the previous week, where Smith saw only 22 snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith’s limited role may be tied to his recent health challenges. The 36-year-old missed significant time in training camp and the first two games of the season due to a personal health matter. While he could ramp up after the Week 6 bye, his current role as a sub-package player is a stark departure from his every-down presence in years past.
Other defenders, like Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Jeff Okudah, also saw reduced roles compared to their 28+ snaps against Cincinnati. The return of Javon Hargrave to full health and the game script likely contributed to the tighter rotation.