The Minnesota Vikings‘ nightmare 2025 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon, as they were shut out in a 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Nothing has gone right for the Vikings, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, as the team’s decision to entrust second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the keys to the offense has backfired in spectacular fashion.
Pretty much everyone on Minnesota’s offense is struggling. That includes veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, whom the team traded for before the season in order to come in and work behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. That never ended up happening, though, and after he was a healthy scratch for the team’s latest loss, Thielen was released on Monday, prompting him to send a strong message to the Vikings and their fans.
Adam Thielen Bids Farewell to Vikings After Recent Release
After not getting selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Thielen latched on with the Vikings and gradually turned himself into one of the top wide receivers in the league. Thielen spent the first nine seasons of his career with Minnesota, earning a pair of Pro Bowl selections along the way, as well as a spot on the All-Pro Second Team in 2017.
After the 2022 campaign, Thielen signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and he promptly put together one of the best seasons of his career in 2023 (103 REC, 1,014 YDS, 4 TD). Thielen played in 10 games in 2024 for the Panthers, but with the team looking to give its younger options more playing time, they decided to trade the veteran pass catcher back to the Vikings ahead of the 2025 season.
Thielen never really got off the ground in his second stint with Minnesota, as he caught just eight passes for 69 yards in his 11 games played. Part of that was due to the team’s quarterback situation, but it has become clear that this team won’t be playing in the postseason this year. As a result, Thielen requested his release, and after the team granted it to him, he issued a statement on social media.
“As a Minnesota native, putting on this uniform over the years and representing this community both on and off the field has always meant that much more to me,” Thielen said as part of a statement posted on X. “This team is in my bones, it’s in my heart and it’s part of my DNA. I will ALWAYS be a Minnesota Viking.”
Adam Thielen Begins Search for New Home
GettyMinnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen.
As he revealed in his statement, this will be the final season of Thielen’s career in the NFL, so rather than getting ruled inactive by a non-playoff-contending team, he decided he wanted to try and help a playoff contender win it all before he rides off into the sunset. Considering how things are going for the Vikings, they really don’t have a need for Thielen currently, so this move makes sense for all parties involved.
Now that he’s set to be a free agent, Thielen will be exploring his options over the next few days. As for Minnesota, it will be looking to generate any sort of positive momentum it can when it takes on the Washington Commanders in Week 14. Kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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