The Minnesota Vikings made an effort to reunite with Adam Thielen for several reasons.
The wide receiver depth chart is shortened with Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games of the season. However, Addison’s in-house replacement had suffered a setback, prompting those trade talks.
Jalen Nailor suffered a hand injury during joint practices with the New England Patriots. While Nailor made the 53-man roster and avoided any injury designation, his status early in the season is in question.
According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, head coach Kevin O’Connell dodged a question about Nailor seeking surgery in the Patriots’ postgame news conference, which he confirmed to be true.
“There was a procedure done, with the idea to be back for Week 1,” Wolfson said of Nailor on August 26. “I think when the injury report comes, that final injury report [before Week 1 against the Chicago Bears], I would imagine Jalen Nailor is listed as questionable.”
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Nailor has been the Vikings’ third wide receiver since K.J. Osborn left in 2024 free agency. Last year, he stepped in for an injured Addison early in the season and opened the season with touchdowns in three consecutive games. He tallied 414 yards receiving and six touchdowns on 28 receptions in 2024.
Nailor will want to get as much action as he can while Addison is out to showcase his talent approaching free agency next March. Nailor underwent the procedure to ensure the injury wouldn’t linger into the season, but until he has recovered, he will have to sit out of practice, which puts his Week 1 availability into question, Wolfson said.
Meanwhile, Thielen appears to have all the runway to immediately step into his former role as a top-two wide receiver in the offense alongside Justin Jefferson.
Adam Thielen Pens Classy Message to Panthers After Vikings Trade
A lot has happened to Thielen in the past 24 hours.
Learning of the his trade to Vikings on August 27, he flew to Minnesota that morning and was at the team’s facilities to work out a restructured contract.
There’s still more logistics to handle, including moving his family back home.
However, Thielen found time to write a farewell to Carolina, his home for the past two seasons.
“Carolina, as a free agent in 2023, my family and I chose this team for a reason,” Thielen wrote. “We fell in love with the organization and the city on our free agent visit that has been home for us now for the past few years. … Carolina will always be an important part of our journey.
“We always strived to represent the Panthers organization with pride on and off the field and help build a winning culture. I am glad I got to be a small part of that process and KNOW the future is very bright in Charlotte. The organization is on the right path because of leadership from the top to bottom that is in place today and the talent that has been developed on the field.”
Vikings Name Team Captains
This year’s Vikings roster saw an influx of new veteran talent, given the organization’s spending spree in free agency.
However, the mainstays of the organizations will continue to lead the way along with three newcomers to the team’s leadership.
On Thursday, August 28, the Vikings named their team captains, which saw three first-time captains named in J.J. McCarthy, Aaron Jones and Jonathan Greenard.
The trio joins Justin Jefferson, Harrison Smith, Andrew DePaola, Josh Metellus and Brian O’Neill as the captains for the 2025 season.
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