Return of Adam Thielen would boost Vikings' passing game

Toward the end of the Vikings' 21-6 loss in Seattle last Dec. 10, sideline microphones picked up an exasperated expletive from Adam Thielen, as the wide receiver's frustrations with an offense stuck in neutral reached their breaking point.

Fifty-one weeks later, as Thielen is expected to make his return from a right hamstring injury for another Monday night game in Seattle, he'll return to an offense that's ranked eighth in the league this season and has diversified itself in his absence.

"We've relied on some different personnel groupings; I think we've asked a little bit more of an Irv Smith, a Tyler Conklin, even our running backs being receivers," quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "They've…