EAGAN, Minn. — The vibes are immaculate, as they say.

Week 1 of the NFL season is upon us, and Vikings pass catchers are all smiles ahead of Monday night's game in Chicago.

T.J. Hockenson, Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson all spoke with media members Thursday following Minnesota's practice, and each seemed to carry an extra spark of energy.

Certainly Thielen, who returned home last week after Minnesota acquired him from Carolina via trade.

"I'm like a kid in a candy store," the 35-year-old receiver beamed. "This is just what I love to do. Obviously, this place means so much to me. I'm just happy to be here. I'm happy to be in that huddle with a great group of guys and great coaches, just the people around this building.

"That's kind of always been my personality, to just take advantage of the moment and enjoy it," Thielen added.

As for reconnecting with Jefferson?

"Like I never left," Thielen said.

The feeling is mutual, as the Vikings offense has welcomed No. 19 back with open arms.

"Hearing the excitement in his voice and hearing how happy he was to, one, come back home, but to be with this organization again, be with this type of team that, of course, went on a 14-3 season last year, having a good chance at having another good season this year," Jefferson said. "[He's a] valuable part in that role, so him coming in … is very special."

Having Thielen back in the huddle just feels right.

"You know, sometimes you lose a guy and you don't really remember his vibe, and then once he gets back in there, it's like, 'Oh, man, I missed you,' " Hockenson said with a grin.

The reunion is reminiscent in some ways to Jefferson's early days with the Vikings, he noted.

And yet, the tables have turned.

Rather than Thielen showing Jefferson the ropes, it's been the younger receiver checking in on the vet, making sure he's up to speed.

Thielen, of course, isn't new to Kevin O'Connell's system. But being in the Panthers offense just over a week ago and now in the Vikings, it's not exactly simple.

Thielen likened it to the idea of different languages. All NFL offenses have similar core principles and concepts; but if you're accustomed to hearing it in English and it's relayed in another language, there's going to be a disconnect.

Thankfully, Thielen's recall is pretty good.

He admitted it's "tough" but credited Vikings coaches and teammates for helping him get back up to speed on a truncated timeline.

"And then having an extra day going into this week really helped, and obviously being in the offense before helps me to be able to come back, 'OK, I remember some of this stuff,' " Thielen said. "Just trying to get those reps in the huddle is huge. You can look at a piece of paper and say, 'Oh, yeah, I know what I'm doing,' and you've got time to process. When you're in the huddle, you don't have a whole lot of time to process. So just trying to get those reps [either] in walk-through or practice is huge – just to get used to hearing the play call, getting lined up and then, boom, ball snap and be ready to process quickly."

Hockenson knows exactly what it's like to learn an offense quickly, as he joined the Vikings midseason in 2022 after being traded by the Lions.

The tight end has been impressed with Thielen, noting he was "spitting a couple things out" on his first day back and not asking too many questions.

"He's starting to recall the offense really well," Hockenson said. "It's been a lot of fun. That just shows the vet and how long he's done it, being able to switch your mind from one offense to the other.

"There's so many different ways to evolve, ways to do things, and you have to learn the verbiage," he added.

Just as Thielen has picked up the offense, he's fallen back into stride with other old habits, as well, including playing team barista.

Hockenson appreciates seeing Thielen stroll through the halls early in the morning, cup of joe in hand, and ribbed that he's the only teammate brewing coffee.

"I don't think that coffee machine got used in two years," he quipped. "It's definitely overheating. But it was running again."

Thielen confirmed, adding he's pivoted to newer machines in the facility because "I'm not sure anyone cleaned that one in two years."

"I'm sure we'll have a nice coffee get-together in the next few days," Thielen laughed. "And then game days, usually I try to find out who my coffee guys are, and if they're not, I still force them to take a shot of cold brew before the game.

"I'm excited to get Justin back on that, because when I was here, I always made sure he had a shot of cold brew before the game, get him fired up," he added.

As Hockenson, Thielen and Jefferson look ahead to the season opener at Soldier Field, caffeinated or not, they're all readying for their first game with J.J. McCarthy.

The former two have obviously had more reps with the 22-year-old QB, though Thielen also worked out with him this summer while back in Minnesota. And while they all have yet to be an NFL field together, the pass catchers' confidence in McCarthy is evident.

"I've really come to love his love of the game, and then his poise in the backfield and in the huddle," Hockenson said. "I've really enjoyed watching him, being in the huddle with him, because he gives a calming presence. He's not stumbling over plays; he's straight to the point. He's precise. It's not what you always get in a young quarterback.

"One thing that's fun for me is to pull the quarterback aside, or he pulls me aside, and just talk ball," Hockenson continued. "And even when we're outside of here, hanging out, just to talk ball. That's not something you always get, so it's been really fun."

Jefferson missed the majority of training camp with a minor hamstring injury but assured he's in a rhythm with McCarthy after two weeks of consistent work back on the field.

Not that he ever doubted it.

"Jets" told reporters he never had a second thought about reestablishing a connection after being sidelined for a bit.

"I'm confident, he's confident, everybody else is confident in the plays that we have, the players we have out on that field," Jefferson said. "It's just about going out there, having that confidence and executing."

McCarthy may be young, but his receivers see something in him that makes him special.

"He definitely has the winning attitude, the 'dawg' mentality and just that killer mode," Jefferson said. "And [he has] more weapons here [than in college], you know? Having me, T.J., A.J. (Aaron Jones, Sr.), Jordan Addison when he comes back, Speedy (Jalen Nailor), Adam. So many different people surrounding him that can help out tremendously.

He added: "It's just all about him calling a play, getting the ball into our hands and letting everything else work for itself."

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