Minnesota Vikings bring back former receiver Thielen

Not even a day after the cutdown deadline came to an end the Minnesota Vikings have made a deal to bring former wide receiver Adam Thielen back home.

Thielen returning home

It’s been a move that many have been expecting for a while, but the deal finally went down Wednesday morning. The Panthers sent their leading receiver from last year to the Minnesota Vikings along with a conditional 7th round pick in next year’s draft and a 2027 fifth round pick in exchange for a 2026 fifth round pick and a 2027 fourth round pick.

While there was plenty of speculation surround a potential return to Minnesota, one the cutdown period came to a close on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET most people thought that both teams ran out of time. But rumors reignited again on Wednesday when Thielen’s wife, Caitlan, posted a little teaser on Instagram.

Thielen spent the last two years with the Panthers in Carolina and and caught over 100 balls for over 1,000 yards in 2023. Last year was a tough year for not just Thielen but the entire organization. Despite that he still had 615 yards with five touchdowns in just 10 games. Now it seems like the Panthers are turning to a younger receiving corp as the franchise looks to turn a new leaf.

Thielen provides more ammo for McCarthy

The 35 year old goes back to the place he called home for almost a decade. He was drafted out Minnesota in 2014 and became a Vikings fan favorite. He was a two time Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro selection in 2017. That was the same year that he helped lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship.

The Vikings will be hoping to get back to that stage of the playoffs this year, and adding Thielen is only going to help. He is familiar with the offense, and spent a year with head coach Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota before leaving to Carolina in 2022.

The Vikings have one of the top receivers Justin Jefferson ready for Week 1, but Jordan Addison is suspended for the first three weeks of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Meanwhile Jalen Nailor is still “week to week” with a hand injury. Second year QB J.J. McCarthy, who is coming off a season ending knee injury, is going to need all the help he can get in his first real season in the NFL.

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