Minnesota Vikings' Adam Thielen. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune)Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen scored his fourth touchdown of the season when he took a crossing route from Case Keenum 52 yards for a fourth-quarter score in Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Panthers.

That gave Thielen six catches in the game and 80 this season, which triggered an escalator clause in his base salary of $2.85 million for the 2018 season. He'd already put himself in line to earn an extra $500,000 for next season by catching 70 passes, then earned another $250,000 when he hit 80. If Thielen catches another 10 passes in the Vikings' final three games to finish with 90, he'd wind up with a $1 million escalator clause for 2018.

The former undrafted free agent from Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Minnesota State Mankato signed a four-year extension with the team in March.