DETROIT -- Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is optimistic that the hamstring injury he sustained against the Lions won't keep him sidelined when Minnesota hosts the Washington Redskins in four days.
"We'll evaluate it, see where it's at after getting an MRI and then hopefully I'll get ready to go," Thielen said. "I'm optimistic that I'll be playing and that's all we can do right now."
Thielen sparked the Vikings' highest offensive output of the season in a 42-30 win in Detroit, connecting with quarterback Kirk Cousins on a 25-yard back-of-the-end zone touchdown with 5:23 to play in the first quarter.
Following the play, Thielen was slow to get up and was tended to behind the end zone by Vikings trainers. The receiver said he isn't exactly sure at what point he sustained the injury.
"That's a good question," he said. "I just felt it and then ran into the wall and when I got up I felt it. That's about it."
Thielen had a noticeable limp as he walked off the field and was evaluated in the medical tent behind Minnesota's bench for several minutes. He remained on the sideline for the rest of the first half, where he was seen periodically grabbing at the back of his right leg and doing several isolated stretches.
He was downgraded from questionable to out at the start of the third quarter, but it appears there might have been a chance that he could have returned.
"That's a tough question because I always feel like I can play," Thielen said. "But at the same time I trust our eyes and I trust their opinion and I'm just there to try to help this team win and do whatever they tell me to and they have my best interests in hand and I'm going to trust that and hopefully we can get it back."
Rookie Olabisi Johnson stepped into Thielen's role following his injury and scored his first NFL touchdown, connecting with Cousins for a 1-yard reception with 12:44 to play in the second quarter. Johnson finished with a team-high eight targets and had four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown.
"He's played good all year," coach Mike Zimmer said of Johnson. "We'll continue to get those guys in there. It'll be a good test for us. We've got to get back tonight, get in the training room, coaches get back to work, have a short week and get ready to go."
The Vikings head into their Thursday Night Football matchup with Washington coming off their first NFC North victory. Thielen noted that the condensed week heightens the importance of his rehabilitation process upon returning to Minnesota.
"Whether I'm going to go back in today," Thielen said. "That changes it. You definitely go in and get treatment and do what you can and you try to get as much extra treatment as you possibly can leading into a short week."