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Vikings grant Adam Thielen’s release request, veteran WR seeks final-season role elsewhere

Colin Lynch Written by Sports EditorColin Lynch
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Vikings grant Adam Thielen’s release request, veteran WR seeks final-season role elsewhere

The Minnesota Vikings have waived veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen at his request. The 35-year-old is looking to finish what he’s indicated will be his final NFL season with a team that offers him more playing time.

On Monday, the Vikings waived Adam Thielen after he asked for his release, citing a desire for a larger role in the remaining weeks of what he’s previously described as his final NFL season.

Minnesota’s front office granted the request out of respect for Thielen’s legacy with the franchise.

His second stint in Minnesota, rekindled this past offseason via a trade from the Carolina Panthers, never delivered the on-field opportunity he hoped for.

Through 11 games, Thielen made just eight receptions for 69 yards, with a long of 19 and a single two-point conversion catch. He was inactive for the most recent game.

For Minnesota, this clears a roster spot and allows the team to pivot toward younger receivers. For Thielen, it’s a chance to find a fit that maximizes his final season, whether that’s with a contender or simply somewhere he’ll be on the field more often.

Career arc and legacy in Minnesota and beyond

Thielen’s story in the NFL is noteworthy. Undrafted in 2013 out of Minnesota State-Mankato, he rose through perseverance and route-running precision to become a consistent and reliable target.

Over his career with the Vikings (2013–2022, 2025), and a two-year detour via Carolina, he compiled hundreds of catches, thousands of receiving yards, and established himself among the team’s all-time receiving leaders.

His 2025 return to Minnesota was nationally framed as a potential homecoming,  a “return to where it all began” for a hometown kid.

But the NFL is often brutal to aging skill players, and this season was another reminder: opportunity shrinks fast when youth and efficiency collide.

Now that Thielen has been waived, his next step could define his legacy. If another team claims him,  or signs him if he clears waivers, and he earns a solid role, he could finish strong. If not, this departure may quietly mark the end of a veteran career that spanned more than a decade.

What to watch next, for Thielen and the Vikings

  • Which teams could claim him? Because the move comes after the trade deadline, Thielen must pass through waivers. A playoff-contending team needing receiver depth might pick him up quickly.

  • Will he get meaningful snaps? Any new suitor will likely view him as a veteran depth or rotational pass-catcher, but his value could rise in red-zone or third-down situations given his experience and dependable hands.

  • Impact on Minnesota’s receiving corps. With Thielen gone, the Vikings may lean more heavily on younger receivers or look to the practice squad. This could speed up their evaluation of youth or prompt additional in-season signings.

  • Thielen’s final chapter. Whether this springboards him to one last meaningful role or becomes a quiet exit, how he finishes the 2025 season will shape how his career is remembered.

Colin Lynch Written by Sports EditorColin Lynch
Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.
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