Thielen did not have a target or carry in Sunday's win over Cleveland in London. He played on 14 of the offense's 65 snaps.
Thielen has become a distant No. 4 receiver the past two games with the return of Jordan Addison from a suspension. He's unlikely to have a larger role in the offense unless one of the top three receivers is injured.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Reduced role with Addison back
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Thielen had two receptions for 11 yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin.
Thielen played on just 12 of the offense's 76 snaps as he moved to a distant No. 4 receiver with the return of Jordan Addison from a three-game suspension. Jalen Nailor played 48 snaps on offense and had four targets (one reception for a touchdown). Thielen is likely to have a small role in the offense unless there's an injury among the top three receivers.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: No receptions in blowout win
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Thielen did not have a reception on two targets in Sunday's win over the Bengals. He had one dropped pass.
Thielen again got a start in a three-receiver set and played on 45 of the offense's 60 snaps, but he wasn't a factor in the passing game. He's had a drop and another botched catch (he let a defender knock away an easily caught ball) among his five targets in three games. He'll also likely move to a reserve role next week with Jordan Addison set to return from a suspension, making him a less enticing fantasy option.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Two receptions in loss
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Thielen had two receptions for 26 yards on three targets in Sunday's loss to Atlanta.
Thielen started in a three-receiver set on offense and saw a slight increase in both targets (one last week) and snaps (38 of the offense's 47 snaps). He still saw fewer targets than Jalen Nailor (five) and ran fewer routes (30 to 27), but the gap was closer than Week 1. While Thielen's usage improved slightly, the passing offense may be limited by J.J. McCarthy's erratic play, and his role could decrease in two weeks when Jordan Addison returns from a three-game suspension.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Just one target in return to Vikes
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Thielen was not able to bring in his only target in Monday's win over Chicago. He did catch a two-point conversion.
Jalen Nailor got the start at wide receiver opposite Justin Jefferson and had more opportunities (one reception on three targets). Nailor also played 49 of 56 snaps on offense, compared to 32 for Thielen. It was thought the veteran may step right into the No. 2 WR role after his trade from Carolina, given Nailor's hand injury during training camp. However, it looks like Thielen will need to re-integrate himself into the offense first after spending the last two seasons with the Panthers, following a nine-year tenure with the Vikings that ended in 2022.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Revises deal to clear cap space
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Thielen and the Vikings have agreed to a revised contract that reduces his salary by $2 million and removes $4 million in incentives, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Per Pelissero, Thielen volunteered to take less money in order to help the Vikings clear cap space and improve their chances of competing. It's another indication that Thielen is thrilled to be back in Minnesota after two campaigns with Carolina. The Panthers dealt Thielen to the Vikings on Thursday, and the veteran wideout's presence should help Minnesota absorb the early-season suspension of Jordan Addison, who won't be available until Week 4.
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Vikings' Adam Thielen: Traded back to Minnesota
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The Panthers are trading Thielen to the Vikings for an exchange of Day 3 draft picks in 2026 and 2027, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The trade has been rumored for a week, with the teams finally able to work out terms Wednesday. The Panthers get a 2026 fifth-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick, while the Vikings get a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Thielen, 35, could be in Minnesota's starting lineup soon, with Jordan Addison suspended for Weeks 1-3 and Justin Jefferson (hamstring), Jalen Nailor (hand) and Tai Felton (arm) all dealing with injuries this summer. Jefferson, at least, is expected to be ready for Week 1 at Chicago after returning to practice last week. Thielen played alongside Jefferson from 2020 to 2022, scoring 30 TDs in 45 regular-season games despite modest production otherwise (70.3 catches for 789.0 yards on 103.3 targets per season). The Vikings are 1.5-point road favorites on Monday Night Football in .
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Vikings interested in reunion
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The Panthers have engaged with Minnesota on trade conversations surrounding Thielen, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Thielen is currently heading into the final year of his restructured contract with Carolina and weighed the possibility of retirement this offseason, so the 35-year-old could be attracted by the idea of returning to Minnesota, where his NFL career began. The Vikings expect Justin Jefferson (hamstring) to be ready for Week 1, but Jordan Addison (suspension) won't be eligible to play in the first three games of the regular season, Jalen Nailor (hand) and Tai Felton (arm) are currently dealing with injury, and Rondale Moore (knee) is on IR and out for the year. Thielen would still project as a starter if he were to remain with the Panthers, but Carolina has an abundance of depth at wide receiver and could be motivated to allot as many reps as possible to the development of younger players like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker behind new No. 1 option Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring).
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Clean catch in preseason opener
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Thielen brought in his only target for 10 yards in Friday's 30-10 preseason loss to Cleveland.
Thielen made a clean sideline catch in the first quarter before making an early exit with the rest of the first-team offense in Friday's preseason opener. The 34-year-old flirted with the idea of retirement this past offseason before deciding to suit up for at least one more season with the Panthers. Thielen remained productive in 10 active games with Carolina last year, producing a 48-615-5 receiving line over that span. Look for the two-time Pro Bowler to operate as one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets out of the gate in 2025.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Sticking around in Charlotte
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Thielen finalized a restructured contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Thielen said in early February that he wants to play for at least one more season, and he'll be able to do that as he returns for a third campaign in Carolina on a revised contract. The veteran wideout's 48 catches and 615 yards last season were his fewest since 2019, but he played in only 10 games due to a hamstring injury and still managed to catch five touchdowns. Despite the missed time, Thielen led Carolina in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season, and he'll likely continue to be a top target for up-and-coming quarterback Bryce Young in 2025.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Plans to continue career
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Thielen relayed Thursday that he intends to continue his playing career during the 2025 season, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thielen has one year remaining on the three-year, $25 million deal that he signed with the Panthers in March 2023. In two campaigns in Carolina, he has one 1,000-yard season under his belt (2023), averaged 10.8 YPC and 8.2 YPT and scored nine touchdowns in 27 games. Even as he enters his age-35 season, Thielen clearly still has something to give to what appears to be an ascendant offense under the direction of 2023 top overall pick Bryce Young.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Evaluating playing future
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Thielen said Monday he intents to evaluate his potential playing future now that Carolina's regular season has concluded, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Thielen said he's currently leaning a certain direction but isn't ready to reveal his thoughts. The 34-year-old veteran has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers, though Carolina has a potential out this offseason with only $5 million in dead cap. Still, Thielen was again one of Bryce Young's most trusted targets in the passing game during the 2024 campaign, in which he compiled a 48-615-5 line on 62 targets, despite suiting up for just 10 games. If Thielen decides to continue his NFL career, it would seem in the best interest of both sides for him to stick with the Panthers.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Five-catch finale Sunday
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Thielen secured five of six targets for 44 yards in the Panthers' 44-38 overtime win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Thielen made his usual solid contributions in the season-ending victory, finishing second in receptions and targets and third in receiving yards. Thielen was a key element in Bryce Young's resurgence over the second half of the campaign, and after a second straight productive season in Carolina, he could certainly be back in 2025 for what would be his contract year.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: WRs to Start
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Thielen was better than I expected in Week 17 at Tampa Bay with five catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns on six targets, and he's now scored at least 15.3 PPR points in four of his past five games. He should stay hot against Atlanta in Week 18, and he's worth using as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues. He missed the first game against the Falcons in Week 6 due to a hamstring injury, but Atlanta is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Thielen should close the season on a high note with another strong game in Week 18.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Pair of TDs in loss
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Thielen secured five of six targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 48-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Thielen led the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while finishing second in targets, and he was on the receiving end of both of Bryce Young's touchdown passes (17, 40 yards). The veteran wideout's multi-score tally was his first of the season, and he'll take aim at the vulnerable Falcons secondary to close out the season in Week 18.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Clear for Week 17
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Thielen (hamstring) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.
The Panthers placed a cap on Thielen's practice reps Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring issue, but it won't stop him from being available to the Panthers offense in Week 17. He'll be facing a banged-up Buccaneers secondary Sunday that he took for eight catches (on 10 targets) for 99 yards and one touchdown back in Week 13.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Thielen was limited at practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
After not being included on Carolina's first practice report of the week Wednesday, Thielen was added to it one day later. His practice restrictions may be maintenance-related, but the health concern is a new one for the veteran wide receiver. As such, Thielen's status will be monitored as the weekend draws closer to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: WRs to Start
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Thielen has scored at least 15.3 PPR points in three of his past four games, including 23.9 PPR points in Week 13 against Tampa Bay. He went off in that game with eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, and he should have the chance for another quality performance in the rematch. The Buccaneers are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and six receivers in the past five games have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against Tampa Bay. I trust Thielen as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Leading receiver in OT win
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Thielen corralled five of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals.
Thielen cashed in one of Bryce Young's two touchdown strikes Sunday, bringing the receiver's season line up to 38-461-3 in eight starts. The 33-year-old Thielen has been particularly lethal since returning from injured reserve in Week 12, averaging 6.0 receptions and 70.4 yards with two of his three TDs coming over that five-game span. Those numbers are good enough for starting consideration in Week 17 against Tampa Bay in virtually any format.
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Panthers' Adam Thielen: Sleeper WRs
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Thielen had a down game in Week 15 against Dallas with just 10.1 PPR points, but he still had seven targets for the third game in a row. Prior to Week 15, Thielen had scored at least 19.2 PPR points in each of his previous two games, and he should continue to be a go-to option for Bryce Young. The Cardinals have allowed at least one receiver to score at least 16.9 PPR points in three of their past four games, and Thielen has the best chance to reach that mark in Week 16.
