Kirk Cousins can't help but feel responsible for Adam Thielen's many missed opportunities from Week 4.
The Vikings receiver was critical of his quarterback after finishing Minnesota's 16-6 loss at Chicago with just two catches, telling reporters after the game: "You have to be able to throw the ball."
Cousins couldn't agree more.
"No, like he said, it's reality," Cousins said Tuesday on KFAN. "I really want to apologize to him because there's too many opportunities where we could have hit him on Sunday, and postgame when I talk to the media I always say, 'Hey, 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 is averaging just 3.3 catches per game this season, which is down from his average of 7.1 catches in 2018. His 6 yards in Week 4 were his lowest output since the 2015 season, but Cousins is confident it won't happen again.
"He's shown — No. 19's shown — that he will make that play, and he'll probably finish that play in the end zone and pull away from the defender," Cousins said. "Adam's not just a really good player or one of the best players on the Vikings. 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 say 'we,' really I mean I need to — get him more opportunities, get him the football."
Thielen also took time on the radio show to clarify his critique was supposed to be more broad, but was instead taken as a shot at Cousins.
"First of all, 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.
"It was as general as I could've got, but obviously people will find a way to twist it and make controversy and try to split your team. We're not going to let that happen."
The Vikings (2-2) will have an opportunity to climb the NFC North standings when they visit the Giants (2-2) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.