The Minnesota Vikings are parting ways with a franchise icon for a second time. The team released veteran wideout Adam Thielen on Monday at his request, allowing the 35-year-old to finish his career with another franchise.
Thielen and the Vikings confirmed the news with posts on social media Monday. The team said Thielen approached it about finishing out his NFL career in a competitive situation. The Vikings decided to grant that wish.
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Thielen confirmed as much, saying this will be his final season in the NFL and he wanted to compete over the final weeks of his career.
While Thielen didn’t explicitly say it, it’s pretty clear the veteran is hoping for a Super Bowl run before he hangs up his cleats. That wasn’t going to come with the Vikings. After nearly winning the NFC North last year, the Vikings find themselves at 4-8 this season thanks to poor quarterback play, among other issues. With the playoffs all but out of the question for the Vikings, Thielen will look to hook on with a team still in the hunt.
The 35-year-old hasn’t been super involved in the Vikings’ offense this season. Through 11 games, Thielen has just eight receptions for 69 yards. He likely wouldn’t start on a more competitive team, but could provide solid depth with the playoffs quickly approaching.
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This breaking news story will be updated.
