I've been thinking about this a bit more, and I suppose it's down to one's definition of 'knowing theory'.
If need to write down the chords of a tune I'm playing, I could (but I generally don't have to).
But mxylixololdioans and all that? I know nowt.
When I'm playing a line, I'm playing it because it sounds right. Which, by happy coincidence, must also mean the theory behind it is solid.