Four veteran NFL players have recently gone back to where it all started for them during the beginning of their careers. Adam Thielen, Brandin Cooks, Keenan Allen, and Amari Cooper will start the season back in the old stomping grounds once again.

Adam Thielen would go undrafted during the 2013 NFL Draft, but would make the squad after a tryout for Minnesota, signing a 3-year deal for just over $1 million. He would make a name for himself, becoming a valuable target at wide receiver all the way through the 2022 season. Over the past two years, he has spent time with the Carolina Panthers, but he only played in 10 games during the 2024 campaign. For his career, he has caught 685 passes for just over 8,300 yards and has 64 receiving touchdowns. The Carolina Panthers recently made a trade to send him back to the Minnesota Vikings, where it all began.

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks was a first-round selection for the New Orleans Saints out of Oregon State. The Saints would choose him at number 20 in the 2014 NFL Draft. After spending only three seasons in New Orleans, he would move around, seeing action with the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys. He hasn’t caught over 90 passes in a season since he was with the Texans in 2021. Recently, he was traded back to the Saints to revamp his career as a weapon for the young quarterback room in New Orleans. For his career, he has snagged 710 catches for 9,532 yards receiving and 60 touchdowns.

Keenan Allen is back where he belongs, and that is in a Los Angeles Chargers uniform. Allen was drafted by the then San Diego Chargers in the 3rd-round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Cal. Allen was with the Chargers all the way up until the 2024 season, when he would appear in 15 games for the Chicago Bears. He was productive in Chicago, but now finds himself back in his comfort zone with the Chargers. For his career, Allen has 974 catches for 11,274 yards and 66 touchdowns.

Amari Cooper is back with the franchise that selected him with the 4th pick of round one during the 2015 NFL Draft out of Alabama. The move has fans feeling mixed emotions as Cooper’s production has been down for the last couple of seasons. However, he would have 72 catches with five touchdowns during the 2023 season with the Cleveland Browns. For Cooper’s career, he has caught 711 passes for just over 10,000 yards and 64 touchdowns.

Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.