Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen has been waived by the Minnesota Vikings, allowing the 13-year NFL player to pursue more playing time elsewhere before his planned retirement at the end of the season.
The Minnesota Vikings have waived veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen, ending his disappointing return to his original team. Thielen, who plans to retire after this season and decided last spring it would be his last, had limited playing time this year with only eight catches for 69 yards, and was a healthy scratch in their recent 26-0 loss. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stated Thielen's agent requested his release to find a more significant role with another club, a request granted out of respect for the player. Thielen expressed his deep connection to the team, calling it 'in his bones' and 'part of his DNA,' despite the difficult circumstances. Coach Kevin O’Connell noted the conversations were positive, driven by Thielen's competitive desire to finish his career strongly. Thielen, who came to the Vikings from NCAA Division II, holds the third-most catches in Vikings history and was re-acquired this season from Carolina for depth, but opportunities dwindled as other receivers became healthy.
