Adam Thielen Injury News & Updates

Thielen had one reception for six yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Chicago.

Thielen played just eight of the Vikings' 55 offensive snaps Sunday, operating as Minnesota's No. 4 wide receiver. He had another drop as he's arguably failed to secure more catchable balls than he has receptions (eight) this season. With Minnesota's struggles in the passing game, there doesn't appear to any upside for Thielen the rest of the season.

Thielen caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Ravens.

Thielen played just nine of the Vikings' 65 offensive snaps Sunday, operating as Minnesota's No. 4 wide receiver. The veteran wideout's two receptions in the contest were his first grabs since Week 7. Since teammate Jordan Addison returned from his three-game suspension in Week 4, Thielen is averaging roughly 10 snaps per game. With such limited opportunities, the 35-year-old remains far off the fantasy radar heading into Week 11 matchup against the Bears.

Thielen did not have a reception on his only target in Thursday's loss to the Chargers.

Thielen has arguably failed to secure more catchable balls than he has receptions (five) this season, as the ball thrown his way could have been listed as a drop. He played on just 12 of the offense's 49 snaps despite the team falling behind early, which doesn't bode well for his future usage.

Thielen had one reception for ten yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

Thielen played just eight snaps on offense but was part of the passing attack after failing to get a target last week. He's unlikely to have a larger role in the offense unless one of the top three receivers is injured.

Thielen did not have a target or carry in Sunday's win over Cleveland in London. He played on 14 of the offense's 65 snaps.

Thielen has become a distant No. 4 receiver the past two games with the return of Jordan Addison from a suspension. He's unlikely to have a larger role in the offense unless one of the top three receivers is injured.

Thielen had two receptions for 11 yards on two targets in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh in Dublin.

Thielen played on just 12 of the offense's 76 snaps as he moved to a distant No. 4 receiver with the return of Jordan Addison from a three-game suspension. Jalen Nailor played 48 snaps on offense and had four targets (one reception for a touchdown). Thielen is likely to have a small role in the offense unless there's an injury among the top three receivers.

Thielen did not have a reception on two targets in Sunday's win over the Bengals. He had one dropped pass.

Thielen again got a start in a three-receiver set and played on 45 of the offense's 60 snaps, but wasn't a factor in the passing game. He's had a drop and another botched catch (he let a defender knock away an easily caught ball) among his five targets in thee games. He'll also likely move to a reserve role next week with Jordan Addison set to return from a suspension, making him a less enticing fantasy option.

Thielen had two receptions for 26 yards on three targets in Sunday's loss to Atlanta.

Thielen started in a three-receiver set on offense and saw a slight increase in both targets (one last week) and snaps (38 of the offense's 47 snaps). He still saw fewer targets than Jalen Nailor (five) and ran fewer routes (30 to 27) but the gap was closer than Week 1. While Thielen's usage improved slightly, the passing offense may be limited by J.J. McCarthy's erratic play and his role could decrease in two weeks when Jordan Addison returns from a three-game suspension.

Thielen was not able to bring down his only target in Monday's win over Chicago. He did catch a two-point conversion.

Jalen Nailor got the starting nod at wide receiver opposite Justin Jefferson and had more opportunities (1 reception on three targets). Nailor also played on 49 of the offense's 56 snaps, compared to 32 for Thielen. It was thought Thielen may step in to the No. 2 WR role after his trade from Carolina and with Nailor's hand injury during training camp. However, it looks like Thielen will begin the season as the No. 3 receiver, though he could become more involved since he joined the team in late August.

Thielen and the Vikings have agreed to a revised contract that reduces his salary by $2 million and removes $4 million in incentives, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Per Pelissero, Thielen volunteered to take less money in order to help the Vikings clear cap space and improve their chances of competing. It's another indication that Thielen is thrilled to be back in Minnesota after two campaigns with Carolina. The Panthers dealt Thielen to the Vikings on Thursday, and the veteran wideout's presence should help Minnesota absorb the early-season suspension of Jordan Addison, who won't be available until Week 4.

The Panthers are trading Thielen to the Vikings for an exchange of Day 3 draft picks in 2026 and 2027, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The trade has been rumored for a week, with the teams finally able to work out terms Wednesday. The Panthers get a 2026 fifth-round pick and 2027 fourth-round pick, while the Vikings get a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder. Thielen could be in Minnesota's starting lineup soon, with Jordan Addison suspended for three games and Jalen Nailor recovering from a hand injury.

The Panthers have engaged with Minnesota on trade conversations surrounding Thielen, Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Thielen is currently heading into the final year of his restructured contract with Carolina and weighed the possibility of retirement this offseason, so the 35-year-old could be attracted by the idea of returning to Minnesota, where his NFL career began. The Vikings expect Justin Jefferson (hamstring) to be ready for Week 1, but Jordan Addison (suspension) won't be eligible to play in the first three games of the regular season, Jalen Nailor (hand) and Tai Felton (arm) are currently dealing with injury, and Rondale Moore (knee) is on IR and out for the year. Thielen would still project as a starter if he were to remain with the Panthers, but Carolina has an abundance of depth at wide receiver and could be motivated to allot as many reps as possible to the development of younger players like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker behind new No. 1 option Tetairoa McMillan (hamstring).

Thielen brought in his only target for 10 yards in Friday's 30-10 preseason loss to Cleveland.

Thielen made a clean sideline catch in the first quarter before making an early exit with the rest of the first-team offense in Friday's preseason opener. The 34-year-old flirted with the idea of retirement this past offseason before deciding to suit up for at least one more season with the Panthers. Thielen remained productive in 10 active games with Carolina last year, producing a 48-615-5 receiving line over that span. Look for the two-time Pro Bowler to operate as one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets out of the gate in 2025.

Thielen finalized a restructured contract with the Panthers on Wednesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen said in early February that he wants to play for at least another year, and he'll be able to do that for a third campaign in Carolina on a revised contract. The veteran wideout's 48 catches and 615 yards last season were his fewest since 2019, but he played in only 10 games due to a hamstring injury and still managed to catch five touchdowns. Despite the missed time, Thielen led Carolina in both receiving yards and receiving TDs last season, and he'll likely continue to be a top target for up-and-coming QB Bryce Young next year.

Thielen relayed Thursday that he intends to continue his playing career during the 2025 season, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen has one year remaining on the three-year, $25 million deal that he signed with the Panthers in March 2023. In two campaigns in Carolina, he has one 1,000-yard season under his belt (2023), averaged 10.8 YPC and 8.2 YPT and scored nine touchdowns in 27 games. Even as he enters his age-35 season, Thielen clearly still has something to give to what appears to be an ascendant offense under the direction of 2023 top overall pick Bryce Young.

Thielen said Monday he intents to evaluate his potential playing future now that Carolina's regular season has concluded, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen said he's currently leaning a certain direction but isn't ready to reveal his thoughts. The 34-year-old veteran has one year remaining on his contract with the Panthers, though Carolina has a potential 'out' this offseason with only $5 million in dead cap. Still, Thielen was again one of Bryce Young's most trusted targets in the passing game during the 2024 campaign, in which he compiled a 48-615-5 receiving line on 62 targets, despite suiting up for just 10 games. If Thielen decides to continue his NFL career, it would seem in the best interest of both sides for him to stick with the Panthers.

Thielen secured five of six targets for 44 yards in the Panthers' 44-38 overtime win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Thielen made his usual solid contributions in the season-ending victory, finishing second in receptions and targets and third in receiving yards. Thielen was a key element in Bryce Young's resurgence over the second half of the campaign, and after a second straight productive season in Carolina, he could certainly be back in 2025 for what would be his contract year.

Thielen secured five of six targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 48-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Thielen led the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while finishing second in targets, and he was on the receiving end of both of Bryce Young's touchdown passes (17, 40 yards). The veteran wideout's multi-score tally was his first of the season, and he'll take aim at the vulnerable Falcons secondary to close out the season in Week 18.

Thielen (hamstring) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.

The Panthers placed a cap on Thielen's practice reps Thursday and Friday due to a hamstring issue, but it won't stop him from being available to the Panthers offense Week 17. He'll be facing a banged-up Buccaneers secondary Sunday that he took for eight catches (on 10 targets) for 99 yards and one touchdown back in Week 13.

Thielen was limited at practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

After not being included on Carolina's first practice report of the week Wednesday, Thielen was added to it one day later. His practice restrictions may be maintenance-related, but the health concern is a new one for the veteran wide receiver. As such, Thielen's status will be monitored as the weekend draws closer to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday at Tampa Bay.

Thielen corralled five of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals.

Thielen cashed in one of Bryce Young's two touchdown strikes Sunday, bringing the receiver's season line up to 38-461-3 in eight starts. The 33-year-old Thielen has been particularly lethal since returning from injured reserve in Week 12, averaging 6.0 receptions and 70.4 yards with two of his three TDs coming over that five-game span. Those numbers are good enough for starting consideration in Week 17 against Tampa Bay in virtually any format.

Thielen recorded five receptions on seven targets for 51 yards in Sunday's 30-14 loss to the Cowboys.

The Panthers couldn't get their passing attack on track, with the only explosive play being an 83-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker. Thus, despite leading the team in targets and receptions, Thielen turned in a modest performance. Positively, he should remain Bryce Young's top target, though the overall state of the Carolina offense will lead to inconsistent results.

Thielen caught nine of 11 targets for 102 yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles.

It's the first time this season that Thielen has topped 100 yards, with his last such performance coming in Week 6 of the 2023 campaign. The veteran wideout has posted a 20-258-1 line on 25 targets over three games since returning from a hamstring injury, giving him significant momentum heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.

Thielen recorded eight receptions on 10 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Buccaneers.

Thielen led the team in targets and posted his highest yardage total since Week 6 of the 2023 season. His longest catch came on a 25-yard touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the game for what appeared to be the game-winning score. He also chipped in a pair of 16-yard grabs and narrowly missed another touchdown grab just before halftime when he was ruled out of bounds on a controversial call. While the Panthers will likely try to get Xavier Legette and some of their other younger pass catchers involved down the stretch, Thielen has quickly become a favorite target of Bryce Young in two games since returning from a hamstring injury.

Thielen recorded three receptions on four targets for 57 yards in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.

Thielen was active for the first time since Week 3 after recovering from a hamstring injury. He finished fourth on the team in targets but made an immediate impact on the Carolina offense by accounting for the unit's longest play from scrimmage on a 36-yard catch late in the first quarter. Thielen also chipped in a 13-yard reception on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to set up a game-tying touchdown. While the Panthers will be invested in getting targets to Xavier Legette and other younger skill-position players down the stretch, Thielen should have a steady role among the receiver corps.

Thielen (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Though he was activated from injured reserve during the Panthers' Week 11 bye, Thielen had still been listed as questionable heading into Sunday after logging a trio of limited practices this week. The Panthers were ultimately satisfied enough with the veteran wideout's health to clear him to play for the first time since Week 3, and he could immediately settle into a high-volume role in the passing attack. Since Thielen last played, the Panthers have traded away No. 1 wideout Diontae Johnson to the Ravens, and Carolina will also be down another key pass catcher Sunday in undrafted rookie receiver Jalen Coker (quadricep), who had played 90 percent of the offensive snaps in a Week 10 win over the Giants.

Thielen (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Kansas City, but Panthers coach Dave Canales said Friday that the wide receiver will play, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen's active status should be confirmed 90 minutes prior to the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. He never quite made it back to full practice participation, instead logging limited sessions each day this week. The exact nature of his role remains in question, as Jalen Coker (quadriceps) has done solid work from the slot in recent weeks but now is listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice. While the Panthers may be inclined to move Coker to the perimeter anyway to free up slot work for Thielen, it's fair to say Thielen's Week 12 volume projection improves if he's active and Coker isn't.

Thielen (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Thielen's reps have been capped in both of Carolina's first two official practices of Week 12 coming out of a bye week, but the wideout has previously indicated that he expects to play Sunday against the Chiefs. While Thielen's prediction could end up coming to pass, he'll still likely need to upgrade to full practice participation Friday to avoid taking a designation into the weekend. Thielen was activated from injured reserve over the Panthers' bye week after having missed the team's last seven games with a right hamstring injury.

Thielen (hamstring) has been medically cleared to play and said he took team reps for the first time in eight weeks during a limited practice Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Previously limited to individual drills or side work, Thielen has now progressed to team drills after a Week 11 bye. He said Monday that he anticipates playing against the Chiefs this Sunday but will still need to see how he holds up in practice throughout the week. Thielen's impending return will cut into Jalen Coker's playing time unless the Panthers adjust by putting Coker on the perimeter and moving David Moore to the bench.

Thielen (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Thielen said Monday that he anticipates returning this Sunday against the Chiefs, although he wasn't quite ready to guarantee it and said he'd have to see how he feels during practice this week. His impending return may cost rookie Jalen Coker playing time, or the Panthers could adjust by putting Coker on the perimeter and moving David Moore to the bench.

Thielen (hamstring) said Monday that he anticipates being ready to play Sunday against the Chiefs, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports. "I mean, obviously a lot of days from now until the game, but encouraged with how [Monday's workout] went," Thielen said. "But still have to gain some ground to feel really good about playing on Sunday, but definitely encouraged, took full advantage of the week and excited to at least be back out there moving around and being with my team."

Head coach Dave Canales echoed the notion that Thielen is expected to be back in action Sunday, but the Panthers are still likely to observe the veteran wideout's activity throughout the week of practice before deciding on his status. Though Thielen was reinstated from injured reserve when his 21-day evaluation window came to an end last Tuesday, he was listed as a non-participant in the Panthers' most recent three practice sessions prior to the team's Week 11 bye. Thielen didn't appear to be doing much work on the field during Monday's unofficial practice session, but he's apparently confident about the progress he's made in his recovery from the right hamstring injury coming out of the bye week. Thielen produced an 8-109-1 receiving line on 12 targets through Carolina's first three games prior to landing on IR, and he should have an opportunity to serve as the team's No. 1 pass catcher down the stretch after Diontae Johnson was traded to the Ravens in October.

Thielen (hamstring) was spotted working off to the side during Monday's practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Monday's session wasn't an official one, as the Panthers merely held a bonus practice following their Week 11 bye. Even so, Thielen's lack of participation in drills doesn't inspire much confidence that he's fully recovered from the right hamstring injury that has kept him from playing since Week 3. The Panthers activated Thielen from injured reserve last Tuesday, but the transaction may have had more to do with the wideout's 21-day evaluation window expiring rather than being an indication that he was healthy. In any case, what Thielen is able to do in official practice sessions Wednesday through Friday will provide some guidance on his odds of playing in Sunday's game against Kansas City.

The Panthers reinstated Thielen (hamstring) from injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Carolina is on bye Week 11, but since Thielen's 21-day evaluation window came to a close Tuesday, he wouldn't have been eligible to play again this season had the Panthers not activated him. After having his window opened Oct. 23, Thielen was a limited participant in four of the Panthers' ensuing six practices, but he was listed as a non-participant in all three sessions during Week 10, which could hint at a setback in his recovery from the right hamstring injury he suffered back in Week 3. The bye week will provide Thielen with some added healing time, but he may need to upgrade to full participation in practice at some point in Week 12 to have a shot at playing in the Panthers' next game Nov. 24 versus the Chiefs. Whenever he's reinstated, Thielen could step into a prominent role in the Carolina passing attack after Diontae Johnson was traded to Baltimore on Oct. 29.

Thielen (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Thielen returned to practice Oct. 23 but didn't participate at all this week. While the Panthers haven't said anything about a setback, it's possible that's what happened. In any case, the team will need to place Thielen back on the active roster next week if he's going to play again this season rather than staying on injured reserve for the rest of the year.

Thielen (hamstring) remained sidelined at Friday's practice, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Thielen remains on injured reserve but traveled with the team to Germany ahead of Sunday's date with the Giants. However, the veteran wideout hasn't practiced all week and is looking like a long shot to be activated for Week 10. If Thielen remains out, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker and David Moore will continue to handle wide receiver duties. They are the only three receivers on the 53-man roster after Carolina traded Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys earlier in the week.

Thielen (hamstring) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With three consecutive DNPs stretching back to last week, Thielen seems to be trending in the wrong direction with his right hamstring in the middle of his 21-day window in which to practice while on injured reserve. The Panthers must activate him by next Wednesday, or else he'll miss the rest of the season, so it wouldn't surprise if he tries to give it a go at Friday's session. Ultimately, though, Thielen very well could be ruled out ahead of Sunday's contest against the Giants.

Thielen (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

The Panthers haven't said anything about a setback, but it's possible that's what happened, in light of Thielen missing practice Friday and now Wednesday (after being a limited participant for the first two sessions last week). He's been practicing since Oct. 23 and will need to be activated from injured reserve next week even if he's not ready to play, unless the Panthers want him ruled out for the rest of the season. The absence from practice Wednesday suggests Thielen doesn't have great odds to play this Sunday against the Giants in Munich.

Thielen (hamstring) was downgraded to out for Sunday's game versus the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Considering he put together an LP-LP-DNP practice regimen this week, Thielen appears to have been testing out his right hamstring to see if a return to action was possible Sunday. His subsequent listing of doubtful indicated it wasn't, and Carolina has confirmed as much before game day. Thielen thus will turn his focus to Sunday, Nov. 10 against the Giants as his next possible chance to suit up for the first time since Week 3.

Carolina lists Thielen (hamstring) as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen has missed the Panthers' last five games with a right hamstring injury and remains on injured reserve, but he took part in practices for the second straight week and seems to be making progress. He was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday's session entirely, but head coach Dave Canales said that Thielen didn't suffer any sort of setback in his recovery. The veteran wideout presumably just needs to get in some more practice time before he's ready to play, and Canales added that the expectation is that Thielen will be available for the Panthers' Week 10 game against the Giants in Munich, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Whenever Thielen makes his return to the lineup, he'll likely take over as the Panthers' No. 1 option in the passing game after Carolina traded Diontae Johnson to Baltimore earlier this week.

Thielen (hamstring) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Thielen maintained his activity level from Wednesday's session, and he now has one more chance to get back to full participation Friday before the Panthers potentially make a ruling on whether or not to activate him from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game versus the Saints. He's been sidelined since Week 3 due to a right hamstring injury, and whenever he's able to return, he'll bolster a receiving corps that lost Diontae Johnson via trade to the Ravens earlier this week.

Thielen (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Thielen, who remains on IR, continues to practice in a limited capacity. The veteran wide receiver will work to prove his health and be cleared to suit up in time for Sunday's game against the Saints. He could be in line to handle an increasingly key role on offense once healthy, following the trade of Diontae Johnson (rib) to the Ravens. Of course, the Panthers are playing for the future, so the team could opt to maximize opportunities for rookies Xavier Legette (a first-round pick) and Jalen Coker (UDFA), even once Thielen has retaken the field.

Thielen (hamstring) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen, who remains on IR, logged two limited sessions after having his 21-day practice window opened, but he downgraded to a 'DNP' listing Friday. With Diontae Johnson (rib) also ruled out for Week 8, quarterback Bryce Young will have to overcome a depleted receiving corps in his return to the starting lineup. Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, David Moore and Jonathan Mingo will have to serve as Young's top wideouts versus a stingy Denver secondary led by star cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Thielen (hamstring) was limited in practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Since Carolina designated him for return from injured reserve Wednesday, Thielen has managed a pair of capped sessions as he closes in on his recovery from the right hamstring injury that he suffered back in Week 3. Fellow WR Diontae Johnson hasn't practiced this week due to a rib issue, so the team may feel compelled to get Thielen back in the lineup Sunday in Denver if Johnson isn't able to suit up. Ultimately, the Panthers will need to activate Thielen from IR by Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET for him to have a chance to play this weekend.

Thielen (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

Thielen was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday and can now be activated to the roster at any point. It's unclear if the Panthers expect him to play this Sunday in Denver, but the fantasy outlook won't be great if he suits up, as Bryce Young will be starting at QB against a solid Broncos defense.

The Panthers opened the 21-day practice window for Thielen (hamstring) on Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Thielen can be activated from IR at any time within his three-week practice window, making him eligible to return as early as Sunday's road matchup against the Broncos. The veteran wideout has sat out Carolina's last four contests due to a right hamstring strain. Once fully cleared, Thielen will be slated to resume starting in three-wide sets alongside Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette.

Thielen (hamstring) said Monday he expects to have his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Thielen has missed a requisite four games since being placed on IR in September due to a right hamstring injury. It remains to be seen whether the veteran wideout could be a realistic candidate to get back on the field as early as Sunday's game against the Broncos, but when healthy, Thielen will rejoin Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette atop Carolina's wide receiver depth chart. With the Panthers currently on a four-game losing streak and Andy Dalton having been pulled out of the lineup late in the team's Week 7 40-7 loss to the Commanders, it's possible a change back to Bryce Young could be in consideration by the time Thielen retakes the field.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that Thielen won't require surgery for the right hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Carolina seemingly expects Thielen to make a full recovery from the injury through rest and rehab. After landing on injured reserve Tuesday, Thielen will be required to miss at least the team's next four games, and he won't be eligible to resume practicing until Week 8. Diontae Johnson should serve as the clear-cut No. 1 option in the Carolina passing attack sans Thielen, while young wideouts Xavier Legette and Jonathan Mingo will both move up a spot on the depth chart.

The Panthers placed Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Thielen sustained the injury while hauling in a 31-yard touchdown reception in Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders and will miss at least the next four games while recovering from the hamstring issue. Carolina signed wideout Jalen Coker from the practice squad to replace Thielen on the 53-man roster, but second-year player Jonathan Mingo and rookie Xavier Legette will be first in line to see added reps behind No. 1 receiver Diontae Johnson while Thielen is on the mend.

The Panthers are expected to place Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Thielen exited Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders with a right hamstring injury and underwent an MRI on Monday. While the results of the MRI haven't been disclosed, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com relays that the injury is "fairly significant," and Carolina isn't preparing for Thielen to be available for any of its next four games. Expect Thielen's move to IR to be made official later Tuesday or Wednesday, with his upcoming absence set to open up more reps at receiver for youngsters Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legette alongside No. 1 wideout Diontae Johnson.

Thielen (hamstring) said after Sunday's 36-22 win over the Raiders that he will undergo an MRI on Monday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen was forced out of Sunday's win shortly after connecting with new quarterback Andy Dalton on a 31-yard touchdown in the first half, and he was subsequently unable to retake the field. He finished with three catches for 40 yards and one score. The results of Thielen's MRI will reveal more regarding the veteran wideout's chances of being available Week 4 against the Bears.

Thielen (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's contest in Las Vegas, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

After connecting with QB Andy Dalton for a 31-yard touchdown snag late in the first half, Thielen stayed on the turf and was seen grabbing at his upper right leg, which was confirmed to be a hamstring injury. Thielen will end Week 3 action with three catches (on five targets) for 40 yards and a TD. With Thielen ruled out, Diontae Johnson should garner most of the attention from Dalton in the second half, while Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette and David Moore are the other healthy wide receivers on the Panthers' active roster.

Thielen suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's contest at Las Vegas, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen remained on the turf after his 31-yard touchdown reception late in the first half, grabbing at his upper right leg in the process. If he's unable to reenter Sunday's game, he'll wrap up Week 3 with three catches (on five targets) for 40 yards and the aforementioned score.

Thielen brought in two of three targets for 20 yards in the Panthers' 26-3 loss to the Chargers on Sunday.

Thielen's line was wholly uninspiring, but considering Bryce Young threw for only 84 yards overall, the wideout's yardage total actually qualified as the second highest on the Panthers for the afternoon. Like fellow accomplished veteran receiver Diontae Johnson, Thielen's fantasy value is significantly hampered by Young's shortcomings at the moment, and there's little reason to believe that will change in a Week 3 road matchup against the Raiders.

Thielen caught three of four targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 47-10 rout at the hands of the Saints.

The veteran wideout didn't post particularly impressive numbers, but he still led the Panthers in receiving yards, with most of the real estate coming on a 32-yard reception in garbage time during the fourth quarter. Thielen topped 1,000 yards in his first year with Carolina, but he'll likely need Bryce Young to take a big step forward in his development to reach that mark again in 2024, something that there was little evidence of Sunday. Thielen and the Panthers passing game will try to shake off this performance in Week 2 against the Chargers.

Thielen caught his only target for 21 yards in Saturday's 31-26 preseason win over the Bills.

Thielen and the rest of the first-team offense played the opening drive, which ended in an eight-yard touchdown catch by Jordan Matthews. Offseason trade acquisition Diontae Johnson and rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette could cut into Thielen's target share in 2024, so matching last year's total of 137 will be tough, but Carolina's entire offense could benefit from increased efficiency if 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young can take a step forward in his second NFL regular season, which kicks off Sept. 8 against the Saints.

Thielen isn't expected to play in Saturday's preseason contest versus the Jets, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen will be joined by fellow wideouts Diontae Johnson (groin) and Xavier Legette in street clothes this weekend, meaning Terrace Marshall, Jonathan Mingo and Ihmir Smith-Marsette, among others, will man the position. At this point in his career, Thielen, a 10-year pro, doesn't necessarily require any reps before Week 1, when he'll be aiming to replicate his 103-1,014-4 line on 137 targets in 17 regular-season contests in 2023.

Thielen isn't in line to play in Thursday's preseason game in New England, Kassidy Hill of the Panthers' official site reports.

Carolina is sitting 33 players in its exhibition opener, namely QB Bryce Young, RBs Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks (knee), WRs Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (foot) and TEs Tommy Tremble (hamstring) and Ian Thomas (calf). Thielen is expected to retain a key role out of the slot in his second campaign with the team after racking up 103 catches (on 137 targets) for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests in 2023.

Thielen projects to reprise his role as the top slot receiver for Carolina during the 2024 season, with newcomers Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette (hamstring) slated to primarily line up on the outside, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Thielen was one of the few offensive playmakers to find success during Bryce Young's rookie season, as he compiled a 103-1,014-4 receiving line while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. Adding an established veteran in Johnson and a high-upside first-round rookie in Legette could give Young the tools to take a step forward, and with that improve the Panthers' passing offense. Despite an increase in target competition, Thielen's combination of established chemistry with Young and slot role could still make him a go-to target for the second-year signal-caller, especially early during the 2024 campaign if Legette needs some time to build momentum.

Thielen caught two of three targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 9-0 loss to the Buccaneers.

Thielen was one of very few bright spots on the Panthers this season and the main target rookie quarterback Bryce Young could consistently connect with. The 33-year-old caught 103 passes -- the second-most of his career -- on 137 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. Despite a new front office and coaching staff set to arrive in Carolina this offseason, the veteran Thielen remains under contract for 2024, when he figures to serve as a reliable outlet for Young even if the team improves the supporting cast around him.

Thielen secured all six targets for 38 yards in the Panthers' 26-0 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.

Thielen paced the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards while sharing the team lead in targets, but his modest yardage tally particularly underscores how underwhelming a day it was for Carolina's air attack. Thielen's fantasy value is unmistakably capped by Bryce Young's struggles most weeks, but he'll at least head into the Week 18 finale against the Buccaneers with back-to-back six-catch efforts.

Thielen brought in six of eight targets for 94 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

Thielen tied DJ Chark for receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards. The veteran wideout helped fuel a second-half comeback by the Panthers that just fell short, even recording a 22-yard grab on a last-gasp final drive that fizzled when time ran out with Carolina having reached the Packers' 31-yard line. Thielen's catch and target totals were his best since Week 11, while his yardage was his most prolific since Week 6. Consequently, Thielen will head into a Week 17 road matchup against a leaky Jaguars secondary on New Year's Eve.

Thielen secured four of seven targets for 43 yards in the Panthers' 9-7 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Thielen set the pace for the Panthers in receiving yards and targets while sharing the team lead in receptions with Jonathan Mingo. The veteran wideout has naturally seen his production capped on some weeks due to Bryce Young's struggles, but he now has a 9-117 line on 14 targets over the last two games heading into a Week 16 home battle against a Packers team that allowed 381 passing yards and four touchdowns to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Thielen caught five of seven targets for 74 yards in Sunday's 28-6 loss to the Saints.

Thielen was the only player to top 26 receiving yards for the Panthers, as Bryce Young threw for only 137 yards on 36 pass attempts. After posting at least 82 scrimmage yards in four of his first six games with the Panthers and scoring four touchdowns over that span, Thielen hasn't reached 75 yards or found the end zone since. The veteran wide receiver remains the top option in Carolina's struggling passing game heading into a Week 15 home game against the Falcons.

Thielen caught three of six targets for 25 yards in Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Buccaneers.

Rookie Jonathan Mingo saw a career-high 10 targets and led Carolina in catches and receiving yards, and there wasn't much production left over for anyone else. Thielen has now failed to reach 50 yards in four of the last five games, and with the Panthers focusing on the development of their young players rather than feeding the veteran free agents that bolstered the roster in the offseason, the former Viking could struggle to post consistent fantasy numbers down the stretch.

Thielen caught one of three targets for two yards in Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Titans.

Thielen has been the bright spot on an abysmal Carolina offense this season, but even he couldn't get going Sunday. His one reception marked a season low, as Thielen had at least five grabs in every game since Week 1. With hardly any yardage either, Thielen will strive to bounce back in Week 13 versus the Buccaneers, when the Panthers will be without coach Frank Reich after he was fired Monday.

Thielen secures eight of 11 targets for 74 yards in the Panthers' 33-10 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.

Thielen led the Panthers in receptions, receiving yards and targets on the afternoon, corralling half of Bryce Young's completions and 74 of the struggling rookie quarterback's 123 passing yards. The veteran wideout has no fewer than five receptions in every game since Week 2, and although he hasn't eclipsed 100 receiving yards or scored since Week 6, he'll head into a Week 12 road matchup against a Titans defense that gives up plenty of production to wide receivers with plenty of momentum.

Thielen brought in six of 10 targets for 42 yards in the Panthers' 16-13 loss to the Bears on Thursday night.

Thielen paced the Panthers in receptions and targets while checking in second in receiving yards, but on a night when Bryce Young threw for only 185 yards, those figures didn't amount too any remarkable fantasy production. The veteran wideout has now posted at least five catches in every game since Week 1, but he's now posted just 71 total receiving yards in the last two contests with Young going through a particularly rough patch. Thielen next sets his sights on a tough Cowboys secondary in a Week 11 matchup on Sunday, Nov. 19.

Thielen caught five of six targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Colts.

The veteran wideout posted his worst numbers since his Week 1 debut with the Panthers, as Thielen hadn't recorded fewer than seven catches, eight targets or 54 yards since until Sunday's weak effort. Carolina coach Frank Reich appears committed to sticking with rookie Bryce Young under center, but it might be better for Thielen's production if veteran Andy Dalton took the reins of the offense. However, a switch isn't likely to happen on a short week as the Panthers get ready for a Thursday night clash with the Bears in Week 10.

Thielen caught eight of 11 targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 15-13 win over the Texans.

Neither offense had much success in this one, but Thielen still posted solid numbers as the leading receiver on either squad. The veteran wideout has seen double-digit targets in four of the last five contests, posting a 48-515-3 line on 59 targets over that stretch, and he could be poised for another big performance in Week 9 against a Colts secondary that just got torched by the Saints' passing game.

Thielen recorded 11 receptions on 13 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Dolphins.

Thielen worked particularly effectively in the intermediate areas of the field in Sunday's defeat, tallying four catches of greater than 11 yards. He also continued to dominate work amongst the Carolina receiving corps, as he now has either 13 or 14 targets in three of his last four games, while topping 100 receiving yards on all three occasions. Bryce Young may ultimately start to distribute the ball more evenly between his pass catchers as he grows more comfortable in the NFL, but it's clear that he has particular rapport with Thielen at this point.

Thielen caught 11 of 13 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 42-24 loss to the Lions.

Thielen once again led the Panthers in all major receiving categories. With his one-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Thielen has now scored in three of his last four games. The veteran has also hauled in at least seven passes in each of those contests, topping 100 yards twice during that span. Although Carolina's offensive has struggled under rookie quarterback Bryce Young, Thielen has benefitted from being the top target, including in garbage-time situations like the second half Sunday.

Thielen caught seven of eight targets for 76 yards and rushed once for six yards in Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Vikings.

Thielen led the Panthers in receiving yards despite falling to his former team. After a quiet Week 1, Thielen has now caught 25 passes on 31 targets since. The 33-year-old offers a dependable option for rookie quarterback Bryce Young, providing good value despite Young's inconsistencies.

Thielen caught 11 of 14 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Seahawks.

With veteran Andy Dalton at quarterback instead of rookie Bryce Young (ankle), Carolina's passing game erupted and Thielen produced his highest single-game receiving yards total since Week 10 of the 2017 campaign, when he was in his prime with Minnesota. The 33-year-old wideout capped his performance with a 15-yard TD catch inside the final two minutes of the game as the Panthers tried to stage a late comeback. Thielen had already begun to establish some chemistry with Young, so his fantasy value might be less affected than some of his teammates by who's throwing him passes in Week 4, but his ceiling will be much higher if Dalton's under center again for a potential revenge game against the Vikings.

Thielen caught seven of nine targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 20-17 loss to the Saints. He also caught a two-point conversion.

After making only two catches in his Panthers debut, Thielen caught three passes on Carolina's opening drive and accounted for five of Bryce Young's eight first-half completions. The veteran wide receiver added a three-yard touchdown catch and a two-point conversion on Carolina's final drive. With Young having thrown for only 299 yards and a 2:2 TD:INT through two starts, Carolina's pass catchers will be tough to trust in Seattle in Week 3, but Thielen has been the team's most productive receiver through two games.

Thielen brought in both targets for 12 yards in the Panthers' 24-10 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.

Donning a uniform other than that of the Vikings' for the first time in a regular-season game, Thielen's production seemed to be affected by the downgrade in experience at quarterback. Rookie Bryce Young unsurprisingly focused most on tight end Hayden Hurst and running back Miles Sanders for short throws against a Falcons defense tough to pass against on the perimeter, leaving Thielen with a minimal role. Terrace Marshall (six targets) and rookie Jonathan Mingo (five targets) both notably garnered more of Young's attention among the wideouts, but it's very likely Thielen's veteran savvy increasingly comes into play as a benefit to the young signal-caller as the season unfolds.

Thielen (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Thielen fit in limited practice sessions Wednesday and Friday around an absence from practice Thursday, resulting in him taking a questionable designation into the weekend. The Panthers ultimately were confident enough in Thielen's health to roll him out Week 1, and even though he's entering the season as Carolina's nominal No. 1 wideout, he could be even busier in his team debut than initially anticipated. Carolina is without one of its other starting receivers in DJ Chark (hamstring) for the season opener, and his absence could result in Thielen drawing an extra target or two from rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

Despite being listed as questionable, Thielen (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's season opener in Atlanta, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Thielen logged limited workloads at practice to commence and close the week, with an absence in the middle due to an ankle injury. If he does indeed get the green light, the veteran will be the clear No. 1 receiving option, as DJ Chark (hamstring) has already been ruled out. Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall would presumably be next in the pecking order. Still, confirmation on his status is not expected to be made until closer to kickoff Sunday morning.

Thielen (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Atlanta.

Thielen sandwiched limited practices Wednesday and Friday around a Thursday absence, after no report of any injury prior to this week. Fellow wide receiver DJ Chark (hamstring) is ruled out for Week 1 but suggested he'll be ready Week 2, while Terrace Marshall (back) is good to for for the opener after avoiding a designation on the final injury report. Rookie Jonathan Mingo and fourth-year pro Laviska Shenault are the only WRs on the Carolina roster that weren't listed on the report at all this week. Thielen may end up a game-time decision ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff in Atlanta on Sunday.

Thielen (ankle) is dressed for Friday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

There was no report of any issue prior to Wednesday when Thielen was listed as a limited participant on Carolina's first injury report of the season. Concern grew Thursday when he was a non-participant, but his return Friday morning suggests the 33-year-old still hopes to play Sunday at Atlanta. DJ Chark (hamstring) and Terrace Marshall (back) also are on the Week 1 injury report, with Chark in particular appearing in danger of missing the season opener.

Thielen (ankle) didn't take part in Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

After he put in a limited session Wednesday, Thielen was merely a spectator one day later, joining DJ Chark (hamstring) as a DNP. The Panthers thus have three questions marks in their receiving corps ahead of Sunday's game in Atlanta, with Terrace Marshall (back) again having a cap on his reps. The situation for all three bears watching to get a sense of who may be available for rookie quarterback Bryce Young this weekend.

Thielen was listed as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.

Following the addition of Thielen's health concern, the Panthers' receiving corps is banged up, with DJ Chark sidelined due to a hamstring injury and Terrace Marshall also limited with a back issue. As a result, the state of the group will be one to watch closely to see who among Thielen, Chark and Marshall are available Sunday in Atlanta.

Thielen caught four of five targets for 48 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason game against the Lions.

Despite missing a few snaps after he took a big hit, Thielen accounted for five of the 10 targets and 66 percent of Carolina's receiving yards while QB Bryce Young was in the game. The Panthers' first-team offense scored 10 points on two drives against Detroit's second-team defense, with the final play being a 21-yard touchdown reception by Thielen on a corner route. The 33-year-old has a chance to lead the Panthers in targets this season and should see his share of looks Week 1 at Atlanta, especially if DJ Chark (hamstring) is sidelined.

Thielen caught his only target for eight yards in Saturday's 27-0 preseason loss to the Jets.

Thielen started the game along with DJ Chark and rookie Jonathan Mingo at wide receiver, but those three and fellow wideout Terrace Marshall combined for just two catches across the three drives they spent in the game alongside rookie quarterback Bryce Young. Things didn't get any better for Carolina's offense after the backups came in. Thielen has a chance to emerge as Young's top target in Carolina's remade passing game. The veteran wide receiver's embarking on his first season with the Panthers after spending nine years in Minnesota.

Thielen agreed to a three-year contract with the Panthers on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Thielen spent the first nine years of his career in Minnesota and drew 100-plus targets in four of the last six seasons. He secured 70 of 107 targets for 716 yards and six touchdowns with the Vikings last year but was let go earlier in March so Minnesota could free up cap space. After failing to top 1,000 yards in the last four seasons, the 32-year-old should have an opportunity to serve as the leading receiver in Carolina after the Panthers traded DJ Moore to the Bears as part of a deal to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, which the team is expected to use on a quarterback.

The Vikings are releasing Thielen on Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Thielen, a former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State, logged a remarkable 10-year stretch with the Vikings but will now have to continue his NFL career elsewhere. The two-time Pro Bowler and Minnesota discussed a potential contract restructure, per Pelissero, but the 32-year-old will ultimately test free agency as one of the top veterans on the market. Though Thielen's statistical production declined across 17 appearances in 2022, he still managed to log 70 catches for 716 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Thielen had three receptions (four targets) for 50 yards in Sunday's 31-24 wild-card round loss to the Giants.

Thielen was Minnesota's second-leading receiver despite finishing fourth in targets Sunday. The 32-year-old appeared to lose a step in 2022, experiencing a decline in receiving yards (716) and touchdowns (six) despite playing four more games than last season. The deadline acquisition of T.J. Hockenson also cut into the veteran wideout's production. Thielen's natural decline coupled with a smaller role on offense should have the former fantasy star's stock down in 2023.

Thielen logged two receptions (on three targets) for eight yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 29-13 win versus the Bears.

Thielen had a touchdown catch in the first quarter and then sat in the second half as Minnesota rested most starters ahead of the playoffs. Thielen finished the season with six touchdowns, down significantly from the 14 and 10 touchdown seasons he posted the prior two years, even though his other receiving stats were mostly similar to his previous two seasons.

Thielen had one reception for 16 yards on four targets in Sunday's loss at Green Bay.

Thielen's role in the offense has declined the past three games while T.J. Hockenson's grows larger. Thielen has just five receptions and 15 targets his last three games, while Hockenson has 37 targets. Neither player may get many targets this week against Chicago as Minnesota may decide to rest or even bench their starters ahead of the playoffs.

Thielen caught one of five targets for six yards in Saturday's 27-24 win over the Giants.

Thielen's underwhelming performance came on a day when quarterback Kirk Cousins attempted 48 passes. Though his five targets were the second-most of any Minnesota pass catcher, the veteran was only able to reel in just one catch. Meanwhile, both Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson saw 16 targets and turned in outstanding fantasy performances. The Vikings remain a high-volume passing offense, so Thielen will look to bounce back when the Vikings visit the Packers in Week 17.

Thielen caught three of four targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 39-36 overtime win over the Colts.

Thielen wasn't targeted until halfway through the fourth quarter, which was odd considering he had caught at least two passes in every previous game this season while seeing fewer than seven targets only twice in the last 12. The 32-year-old receiver got going late, bookending a six-play drive with a 19-yard catch and a one-yard touchdown to cut what was once a 33-point deficit to eight. In the final minute of overtime, Thielen helped get Minnesota in range for a game-winning field goal with a 21-yard catch. He'll look to recapture a more prominent role in Week 16 against the Giants.

Thielen secured seven of eight targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 34-23 loss to the Lions on Sunday.

Thielen finished second in receptions and targets while checking in third in receiving yards on the afternoon for the Vikings. The veteran wideout made an impact with a 23-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarte as well, bringing Minnesota to within eight points at the time. Thielen's production has some ebb and flow to it, but he's now posted tallies of five or more catches in four of the last seven games going into a Week 15 home matchup against the Colts on Saturday afternoon.

Thielen reeled in two of six targets for 27 yards during Sunday's 27-22 win against the Jets.

After tallying at least three catches and 30 receiving yards in eight of the Vikings' first nine games of the season, Thielen has fallen short of both thresholds in two of the last three, with the exception a 9-61-1 line on 10 targets during a Thanksgiving Day win versus the Patriots. His snap share (86 percent) was in line with the rest of his outings this season, but the fact he's in an offense with one of the league's top wide receivers in Justin Jefferson appears to have relegated the 32-year-old to TD-dependent status at this point in his career.

Thielen secured nine of 10 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 33-26 win over the Patriots on Thursday night.

Thielen tied Justin Jefferson for the team lead in receptions and finished second to his star teammate in receiving yards and targets. The sure-handed veteran wideout's catch total was a season high, and it marked his first time over the 50-yard mark in three games. Thielen's third touchdown of the season, a 15-yard score with 9:34 remaining, also proved to be the difference in the game, making it a highly productive all-around night. Thielen's first opportunity to build on Thursday's performance comes in a Week 13 home matchup against the Jets a week from Sunday.

Thielen had two receptions (three targets) for 25 yards in Sunday's 40-3 loss to the Cowboys.

Minnesota's entire passing offense was shut down by Dallas, resulting in mediocre stat lines from Thielen and the rest of the starting unit. The veteran slot man was providing serviceable fantasy results prior to this dud, so fantasy managers shouldn't react too heavily to a blowout game script. Thielen will look to turn things around on a short week when the Vikings take on the Patriots on Thursday.

Thielen caught five of seven targets for 49 yards in Sunday's 33-30 overtime win over Buffalo.

Thielen finished fourth on the team in targets behind Justin Jefferson (16), K.J. Osborn (11) and T.J. Hockenson (10). Jefferson dominated to the tune of 193 yards and one touchdown but no other VIking reached 50 yards or found the end zone. Thielen's nose for the end zone has been key to his fantasy success in recent years -- he totaled 24 touchdowns over the previous two campaigns -- but he's scored only twice in 2022. Ending a touchdown drought that dates back to Week 6 won't be easy in Week 11 against the tough Dallas defense.

Thielen (ankle) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Thielen has been included on Vikings injury reports in back-to-back weeks, first due to a knee bruise and this time around with an ankle issue. While he was listed as full all of last week, he opened Week 10 prep with a limited session Wednesday, only to get back to all activity one day later. Now that his status has been cleared up ahead of Sunday's game at Buffalo, Thielen should be good for his 85-plus percent share of the snaps that he receives on a weekly basis.

Thielen (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

It's the first time this season Thielen has been limited or absent from practice. He handled his usual every-down role this past Sunday in a 20-17 win over Washington, catching three of seven targets for 67 yards while playing 94 percent of snaps on offense. He's seen at least seven targets in every game since Week 1, though never more than nine in a contest.

Thielen secured three of seven targets for 67 yards in the Vikings' 20-17 win over the Commanders on Sunday.

Thielen checked in third in receiving yards on the afternoon for Minnesota, putting up a higher tally than usual thanks in large part to a 36-yard grab. However, the veteran wideout apparently has some serious competition for targets moving forward in the form of newly acquired T.J. Hockenson, who drew nine looks in his team debut. Thielen will aim to build on his second straight 67-yard effort when he faces a tough Bills defense in a Week 10 road interconference showdown.

Thielen (knee) practiced fully Wednesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

After Sunday's 34-26 win against the Cardinals, coach Kevin O'Connell relayed that Thielen picked up a bruised knee, which comes as no surprise in a game in which the wide receiver needed to leave for a spell and get examined in the sideline tent. That said, O'Connell also called Thielen "OK," and his listing on the first injury report of Week 9 confirms as much. Thielen now can turn his focus to Sunday's game at Washington, whose defense ranks in the bottom 10 in the NFL in terms of touchdowns (eight) and YPT (8.7) allowed to opposing wide receivers this season.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said that Thielen suffered a bruised knee during Sunday's 34-26 win against the Cardinals, but the wide receiver is "OK," Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen was shaken up after his third catch of the game early in the second quarter, but after a visit to the sideline tent, he was able to return and eventually finished with six receptions (on seven targets) for 67 yards, his second-highest yardage total of the campaign. With an injury now in tow, his status will be monitored this week in advance of next Sunday's contest at Washington.

Thielen brought in four of eight targets for 36 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 24-16 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Thielen once again generated a modest yardage total, but he made up for it by securing his second touchdown grab of the season on a two-yard catch early in the fourth quarter. The veteran continues to mostly be stuck in a short-area role -- he's averaging a career-low 9.8 yards per reception -- but Thielen's route-running savvy and chemistry with Kirk Cousins will continue affording him plenty of fantasy viability in a Week 8 home matchup against the Cardinals following a Week 7 bye.

Thielen caught four of seven targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 29-22 win over the Bears.

Thielen trailed only Justin Jefferson in targets, but his fellow wideout's 12 catches for 154 yards made for a far more productive day. In fact, after posting his highest yardage of the campaign last week, Thielen's output Sunday marked a season low. Working alongside arguably the league's best wideout in Jefferson, the 32-year-old Thielen has to make do with secondary looks, but with at least seven targets in four straight games, his involvement remains relatively consistent.

Thielen recorded eight receptions on nine targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 28-25 win over the Saints.

Thielen continued to see increased usage in the Vikings' offense, as he has 24 total targets across his last three games. He worked primarily in the intermediate areas of the field, with his longest catch of the day going for 16 yards. Thielen has had a narrow range of outcomes through four games this season, tallying between 52 and 72 receiving yards in each of his last three games. For a big performance, he'll likely to need to find the end zone -- which he's done once this season.

Thielen recorded six receptions on eight targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Lions.

Justin Jefferson was swarmed by the Lions' defense, and Thielen took advantage by tying for the team lead in targets. His biggest contribution came on a one-yard touchdown reception, though he also tallied two receptions that went for 15 yards. Thielen has steadily picked up his performance as the season has progressed, and he's now topped 50 receiving yards in consecutive games.

Thielen secured four of seven targets for 52 yards in the Vikings' 24-7 loss to the Eagles on Monday night.

Thielen finished with at team-leading yardage total while checking in third in catches and targets. The veteran has put together a relatively modest start in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense with a 7-89 line on 11 targets, leaving him in search of his first standout effort of the season in a Week 3 NFC North home clash versus the Lions on Sunday.

Thielen caught three of four targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 23-7 win over the Packers.

Thielen finished a distant second on the Vikings in receiving, as running mate Justin Jefferson set a career high with 184 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches. Stopping Jefferson will surely be a focus of the Eagles ahead of their Week 2 matchup, which could open more opportunities for Thielen to contribute.

Thielen is not in line to play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Broncos.

The same applies to fellow WRs Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn, RBs Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, QB Kirk Cousins and TE Irv Smith (thumb), with the Vikings erring on the side of caution with their key skill players in their exhibition finale. When the team takes on Green Bay on Week 1, Thielen is in line to start at wideout for Minnesota alongside Jefferson.

Thielen didn't play in Saturday's preseason loss to the 49ers, Lindsey Young of the Vikings' official site reports.

For a second straight exhibition, Thielen remained on the sideline along with fellow wide receiver Justin Jefferson, running back Dalvin Cook and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Thielen understandably has yielded the No. 1 wide receiver gig in Minnesota to Jefferson the last two seasons, but the former remains productive himself, totaling 1,651 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in 28 games during that span.

Thielen isn't in line to play in Sunday's preseason opener against the Raiders.

Thielen, along with Justin Jefferson, will be held out of Sunday's exhibition game. In their absences, expect K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette to operate as Minnesota's starting wideouts.

Thielen, who is bouncing back from season-ending ankle surgery, was a participant in Minnesota's organized team activities last week, Coral Smith of NFL.com reports.

Thielen indicated that he's now past his injury woes, noting that his ankle "is great" at this stage. The wideout first suffered his ankle injury early in the Vikings' Week 13 matchup againstthe Lions last year, an issue that forced him to miss four of the team's final five games. Heading into the coming campaign, Thielen, who turns 32 in August, is set to reprise his starting role alongside Justin Jefferson. Though he hasn't topped 1,000 receiving yards since 2018, Thielen has managed to collect 24 receiving touchdowns (in 28 games) over the last two seasons.

Thielen is expected to restructure his contract with the Vikings on Friday, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

Thielen's restructure is expected to lower his 2022 cap hit, possibly by converting a portion of his salary to a signing bonus. The veteran wideout is recovering from ankle surgery undergone late December, but is expected to be ready for spring workouts. By all accounts, Thielen is primed to play out his age-32 season in Minnesota as the No. 2 wideout alongside Justin Jefferson, and his restructured deal could make it easier for the team to maneuver in free agency.

Thielen expects to be ready for spring workouts after Dec. 28 ankle surgery, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "It's a pretty easy recovery, a few more weeks here and I should be feeling back to normal," he said.

Thielen missed two games with an ankle injury and returned in Week 16, but hurt the ankle again which led to surgery and caused him to miss the final two games. He finished the season with 67 receptions for 726 yards and ten touchdowns. While he had double-digit touchdowns for a second consecutive season, he had a career low 10.8 yards per reception. Signed through 2024 and with a $16 million cap hit for 2022, Thielen, 31, looks set to remain with the Vikings even if a new GM decides to overhaul the roster and go with younger players.

Thielen (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and is facing an estimated one-month recovery from surgery, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Thielen might have a chance to play if the Vikings make a deep playoff run, but they currently appear well below 50/50 to even make it past Week 18. K.J. Osborn will be Minnesota's No. 2 receiver to close out the season, with Dede Westbrook likely handling the No. 3 role and Dan Chisena and Ihmir Smith-Marsette providing depth. Meanwhile, Justin Jefferson has seen 39.5 percent of Minnesota's targets the past four weeks, averaging 7.5 catches for 106.0 yards and 0.75 TDs on 12.8 targets.

Head coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that Thielen is feeling sore following his early departure in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Rams, but the wideout is hopeful to be back on the field for the Vikings' Week 17 game in Green Bay, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Minnesota was without two of its top playmakers for most of the Week 16 loss, as running back Dalvin Cook (reserve/COVID-19 list) missed the game entirely, while Thielen played only 23 snaps before leaving after aggravating the left high-ankle sprain that kept him out the previous two contests. Cook will be eligible to rejoin the Vikings on Saturday and is expected to be ready to play in Green Bay the next day, while Thielen's status is murkier, given the recurring nature of his injury. If Thielen is sidelined for the third time in four games, K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook would be in store for more reps alongside No. 1 wideout Justin Jefferson.

Thielen recorded three receptions on three targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 30-23 loss to the Rams.

Thielen was active for the first time since Week 14 and caught a 25-yard pass over the middle of the field in the opening quarter. However, he briefly left the game at the end of the first half after suffering an ankle injury, only to briefly return before shutting things down for the rest of the contest. There has been no word regarding the severity of the new issue, though Thielen could be in danger of missing more game action.

Thielen (ankle) returned to Sunday's game versus the Rams, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

On the Vikings' second snap from scrimmage after halftime, Thielen made a six-yard catch but went back to the sideline afterward. It appears he's attempting to gut out an ankle injury that he seemingly aggravated in the second quarter and previously forced him to sit out Weeks 14 and 15.

Thielen left Sunday's game against the Rams due to an ankle injury.

At the end of his second catch of the game, Thielen was tackled by his ankles and was visibly frustrated as he got to his feet and assisted off the field by team trainers. There's a chance he aggravated the high left-ankle sprain that forced him to sit out Weeks 14 and 15, and if he's unable to return, he'll finish Week 16 with 33 receiving yards.

Thielen (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Rams, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Sidelined for the past two games with a left high-ankle sprain, Thielen was able to practice twice on a limited basis this week, which was good enough for the Vikings to sign off on him making his return to the lineup. Unless his ankle acts up during the contest, Thielen should be in store for a full snap load while working alongside Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn in three-receiver sets.

Thielen, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest with an ankle injury, is expected to play against the Rams, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Thielen was a limited participant in practice all week so it always appeared as if his status was trending in this direction, but it's at least encouraging to hear reassuring news. The 31-year-old missed the last two weeks with a high ankle sprain, but prior to that he had six consecutive games with at least seven targets. Fantasy managers will still want to check whether the star wide receiver will be officially active closer to the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Vikings list Thielen (ankle) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Thielen has missed the Vikings' last two games while recovering from a left high-ankle sprain, but he looks like he'll have a better shot at suiting up this weekend. He was listed as a limited participant on all three of the Vikings' practice reports, after he failed to practice in any capacity in Weeks 14 and 15. Fortunately for those considering Thielen in Week 16 fantasy lineups, the Vikings and Rams kick off among the early wave of Sunday games at 1 p.m. ET. Managers should thus have multiple alternatives ready to go in the event Thielen finds himself on the inactive list for the third week in a row.

Thielen (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Thielen has put in some work at both a walkthrough Wednesday and a regular session Thursday, potentially positioning him to put an end to a two-game absence and return Sunday versus the Rams. Friday's practice report will indicate whether he has a chance to do so, but the Vikings could use his services this weekend after Dalvin Cook (illness) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cook won't be available, so if Thielen is cleared to play on his left ankle, Minnesota's primary options in the passing game would be Thielen, Justin Jefferson and Alexander Mattison.

Thielen (ankle) was listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate.

During the portion of the walkthrough open to the media, Thielen didn't take part in any drills, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. Still, Thielen mixed in at some point during the session to garner a limited tag on Wednesday's report. It marked his first non-DNP listing since suffering a high left-ankle sprain Dec. 5 at Detroit, setting him up for a potential return to action Sunday against the Rams.

Thielen (ankle) didn't take part in Wednesday's walkthrough, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen has yet to practice since sustaining a high left-ankle sprain Dec. 5 in Detroit, missing two contests as a result. In the Vikings' last game Monday at Chicago, he actually was considered a game-time decision, but after putting in a brief pregame workout he was included on the team's list of inactives. Thielen still has a pair of chances to mix into practice this week, but he intimated to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Wednesday that he may not have to get any on-field work to make himself available to Minnesota's offense Sunday versus the Rams.

Thielen (ankle) is listed as inactive Monday at Chicago.

Thielen was considered a game-time decision, despite not practicing since suffering a high left-ankle sprain in a Week 13 loss at Detroit. Per Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Thielen fit in a pregame workout, went to the locker room and then didn't run routes with his teammates, signaling he was poised to miss a second straight contest. With Thielen sidelined and Dede Westbrook (illness) and Dan Chisena (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Myron Mitchell will be the Vikings' options at wide receiver Week 15.

Thielen (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Bears, is scheduled to go through a pregame workout before the Vikings decide on his status, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Official word on whether Thielen is playing or sitting out should arrive no later than 90 minutes before the game's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, when Minnesota releases its inactive list. After sitting out the Vikings' Week 14 victory over the Steelers with a low-grade left ankle sprain, Thielen wasn't able to practice in any fashion Thursday through Saturday. While the lack of practice activity would normally hint at an absence, Fowler suggests that Thielen will have a chance to play Monday if he checks out better than expected during his workout.

Thielen (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's contest against the Bears, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

This is a somewhat surprising development as there was conflicting reports whether Thielen was even able to participate in Saturday's practice. Mark Craig of The Star Tribune reported Friday Thielen would essentially be considered a game-time decision for Monday's pivotal divisional matchup, though a questionable designation on the team's final injury report would bode well for a possible return. If eventually ruled active for Monday, the star wideout would miss just one week after suffering a high ankle sprain during the Week 13 loss to the Lions.

Thielen (ankle) isn't practicing Friday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The wideout is present but not participating, which suggests he at least has some hope to play in Monday's game against the Bears. It doesn't look promising at the moment, however, with Thielen yet to practice since suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 13 loss to Detroit. K.J. Osborn stepped up as the No. 2 receiver in last week's win over Pittsburgh, with Dede Westbrook (now on the reserve/COVID-19 list) handling the No. 3 role. If Thielen and Westbrook both miss the upcoming game, rookie Ihmir Smith-Marsette could get a look as the No. 3 receiver.

Thielen (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen remains in recovery mode from a high-ankle sprain as the Vikings took the field for the first time during Week 15 prep. Earlier Thursday, coach Mike Zimmer told Chad Graff of The Athletic that he's "hopeful" Thielen will be able to return Monday in Chicago. Considering Thielen suffered the injury Dec. 5, it may be wishful thinking for the wide receiver to play just a little more than two weeks later. Having said that, he does have two more sessions at his disposal to prove the health of his ankle.

Thielen (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Pittsburgh.

As expected, with the game taking place four days after Thielen suffered a high-ankle sprain in the loss to Detroit. His absence leaves K.J. Osborn as the No. 2 receiver and Dede Westbrook as the No. 3, while Thielen's next chance to play will be Week 15 against the Bears on a Monday night (Dec. 20). It isn't yet clear if he has a realistic shot to be healthy by then.

Thielen (ankle) didn't participate in the open portion of Tuesday's practice and is expected to be sidelined for Thursday's game against the Steelers, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

While the Vikings haven't officially ruled Thielen out for Week 14, head coach Mike Zimmer told Tomasson prior to practice that the wideout will return from his high-ankle sprain at some point this season. The fact that Zimmer is talking about Thielen's status in that manner implies that he's unlikely to suit up Thursday, so expect the receiver to officially receive the "out" tag at the conclusion of Wednesday's practice. Thielen's projected absence should clear the way for K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook to handle more reps alongside No. 1 receiver Justin Jefferson.

Thielen (ankle) was estimated as a non-participant for Monday's walk-through practice.

Thielen is still awaiting the results of an MRI on the left high-ankle sprain he sustained in Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Lions, so his absence from the walk-through session a day later comes as little surprise. Even if the MRI reveals that Thielen is dealing with a low-grade sprain, he's still likely to have a tough time gaining clearance for a Week 14 matchup with the Steelers on Thursday. Though Thielen's early exit against Detroit opened up more snaps at receiver for K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook, the main takeaway for fantasy purposes was that more looks became available for Justin Jefferson. While tying his season high with 14 targets, Jefferson notched 11 receptions for 182 yards and a touchdown.

Thielen (ankle) is undergoing an MRI on Monday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Thielen will receive an MRI to determine the severity of his reported high-ankle sprain, an injury which forced him out of Sunday's divisional loss to the Lions. Considering the quick turnaround before Thursday's home matchup against the Steelers, Thielen appears to be looking unlikely for Week 14. For the time being, however, it remains unclear whether his injury will entail a multi-week absence.

Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to Detroit and will undergo further testing Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

It sounds unlikely that he'll be able to play Thursday against Pittsburgh and with news that he suffered a high ankle sprain, he could be out multiple games.

Coach Mike Zimmer confirmed after Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Lions that Thielen has a sprained ankle, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Prior to his exit from the contest, Thielen caught one of his two targets for no gain. The wideout's chances of playing this Thursday against the Steelers will clearly hinge on the severity of his ankle sprain, but the short turnaround between games could threaten his Week 14 availability.

Thielen (ankle) won't return to Sunday's contest at Detroit.

Thielen had his lower left leg pinned while getting tackled on a screen on the Vikings' first possession of the game. He was visibly limping afterward and received treatment from the team's training staff before he was determined to be dealing with an ankle injury. Now that he's been deemed unable to return, Thielen will finish Week 13 with one catch (on two targets) for no yards. Minnesota will turn to Justin Jefferson as its lead receiver, with K.J. Osborn and Dede Westbrook the next players up on the depth chart.

Thielen exited Sunday's game at Detroit due to an ankle injury, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

Thielen was hobbled after hauling in a screen pass early in the first quarter, limping to the sideline after the play. He had his lower left leg examined before the Vikings ruled him questionable to return. If he's unable to continue, Thielen will emerge from Week 13 action with the sole catch (on two targets) for no yards.

Thielen caught five of seven targets for 62 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 34-28 loss to the 49ers.

Two red-zone TDs in the first half fueled another huge performance from the veteran receiver. Thielen now has six touchdowns in his last six games and 10 on the year, the second straight season he's reached double digits, and he could be in line for big numbers again in Week 13 against the Lions.

Thielen had eight receptions (10 targets) for 82 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-31 win over the Packers.

Justin Jefferson stole the show with 169 yards and two scores, but Thielen quietly finished with a strong fantasy outing. The veteran receiver saw his touchdown streak end at three games last week, but he found his way back to the promised land, bringing his season total up to eight through 10 contests. Thielen and the Vikings will take on a 49ers squad that is thin at the corner position in Week 12.

Thielen caught five of seven targets for 65 yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over the Chargers.

The veteran receiver saw his three-game TD streak end, and Thielen hauled in less than half the yardage Justin Jefferson did on the afternoon. Thanks to the expanded 17-game schedule, Thielen is just barely on pace for his first 1,000-yard campaign since 2018, but he could have a different milestone on his mind in Week 11 -- he's 96 yards short of 1,000 for his career against next week's opponent, the Packers.

Thielen brought in two of seven targets for six yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 34-31 overtime loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

Thielen's meager numbers were alarming to say the least, and were it not for his one-yard game-tying touchdown grab with 1:03 remaining in regulation, his fantasy day would have been a complete washout. The veteran's yardage total was unsurprisingly a season-low figure, while his reception total equaled a low-water mark for 2021 as well. On the bright side, Thielen was able to extend his touchdown streak to three games and next encounters a tough Chargers secondary on the road in Week 10.

Thielen had six receptions (nine targets) for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Cowboys.

It was an embarrassing home loss for the Vikings against a backup quarterback, but Thielen managers can't complain after another strong showing. The veteran wideout may have lost a step or two over the past couple of seasons, but he remains Kirk Cousin's top red-zone threat, with over 15 total red-zone targets and six touchdowns through seven contests. Thielen will look to keep things rolling against the Ravens next Sunday, who currently own the worst pass defense in the league (296.1 passing yards allowed per game).

Thielen (foot) corralled 11 of 13 targets for 126 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-28 overtime win over the Panthers.

Thielen had a foot injury crop up following last week's contest, but both he and Justin Jefferson (ankle) were cleared for action Sunday. The 30-year-old re-established himself as a key part of the Vikings' air attack with new season highs in receptions (11), yards (126) and targets (13) after seemingly taking a back seat to Jefferson over the past few weeks. Perhaps this monster performance will remind Kirk Cousins that the reliable veteran wideout can still wreak havoc on defenses when Minnesota returns from its bye week to take on the Cowboys in Week 8.

Thielen (foot) and Justin Jefferson (ankle) don't have injury designation and are set to play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

The Vikings had busy injury reports throughout the week but now appear in good shape for the actual game. Thielen caught just five of 11 targets for 86 yards the past two weeks, but his snap shares (99 and 93 percent) suggest the foot injury isn't too much of a concern. He'll now face a Carolina defense that's given up a league-low 161.6 passing yards per game, though the Panthers have cooled off since they started the season hot with some help from an easy schedule.

The Vikings listed Thielen (foot) as a non-participant in Thursday's practice.

For the second straight day, both Thielen and fellow starting wideout Justin Jefferson (ankle) were labeled as non-participants in practice, despite both being spotted on the field and in uniform during the open portion of Thursday's session. The fact that Thielen and Jefferson were both present at the facility and taking part in work off to the side can at least be taken as a positive, though both will likely need to log limited participation in Friday's practice for fantasy managers to feel more confident that the two will suit up Sunday in Carolina. With four touchdowns through five games on the heels of a 14-TD 2020 campaign, Thielen remains Kirk Cousins' favorite red-zone option, but Jefferson has seemingly supplanted the veteran as the top overall target in the passing game.

Thielen (foot) stretched and ran routes before Thursday's practice, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

It's unclear if Thielen's activity will equate to a limited showing, but he did leave the field for rehab work during the media portion of Thursday's session. The same can be said for Justin Jefferson (ankle), as the Vikings' top two receivers tend to injuries. Thielen's level of participation will become known upon the release of Thursday's practice report.

Thielen missed Wednesday's practice with a foot injury.

He was one of six Vikings to miss practice due to an injury, with the group including Thielen, Justin Jefferson (ankle) and RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder), while RB Dalvin Cook (ankle) was a limited participant. There hasn't been anything to suggest the injuries are serious, and each of Thielen, Jefferson and Mattison handled full workloads in the dramatic Week 5 win over Detroit. The team now has a Week 6 contest at Carolina, with an injury report that's sure to attract the attention of fantasy managers. A return to practice Thursday would alleviate most concerns for Thielen.

Thielen brought in three of eight targets for 46 yards in the Vikings' 14-7 loss to the Browns on Sunday.

Thielen's catch rate left plenty to be desired, but his yardage total, modest as it was, did qualify as the second highest on the Vikings for the afternoon. The veteran went without a touchdown for the first time in four games this season, and both his reception and yardage totals qualified as low-water marks on the campaign for him as well. Thielen will look to bounce back against the vulnerable Lions secondary in Week 5 at home.

Thielen was held out of Wednesday's practice for rest.

With no injury at play, Thielen belongs in fantasy lineups for Week 4 against the Browns. He's second in the NFL with four receiving touchdowns, though Justin Jefferson leads the Vikings in targets (30 to Thielen's 26) and receiving yards (254 to 181).

Thielen is present at Wednesday's practice but isn't participating, Eric Smith of the Vikings' official site reports.

The wideout presumably is dealing with an injury, though he's played all but eight of Minnesota's offensive snaps this season, scoring four touchdowns in the process. It remains to be seen how the Vikings list Thielen on the Week 4 practice report ahead of Sunday's game against Cleveland.

Thielen caught six of nine targets for 50 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-17 win over the Seahawks.

The veteran receiver has been Kirk Cousins' go-to option in the red zone to begin the season, catching four of the QB's eight touchdown passes through three games, including a 15-yard strike in the second quarter Sunday. Thielen will look to keep his TD streak going in a Week 4 clash with the Browns.

Thielen caught six of seven targets for 39 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-33 loss to the Cardinals.

While he didn't gain much in the way of yardage, Thielen tied Justin Jefferson for the team lead in catches and scored his third TD of the season at the end of the first quarter on a seven-yard toss from Kirk Cousins. The veteran receiver's campaign is off to another strong start, and he'll look to keep rolling in Week 3 at home against the Seahawks.

Thielen caught nine of 10 targets for 92 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals.

Thielen provided the game's first points with 6:41 left before halftime, shedding cornerback Eli Apple in the front of the end zone for a five-yard score. He scored another touchdown in the third quarter, this time from 24 yards out. Thielen led the team in targets, catches and receiving yards, though fellow wide receivers Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn were each targeted nine times apiece. Minnesota's passing game will likely remain busy in Week 2 as the Vikings try to keep pace with the high-flying Cardinals in Arizona.

Thielen (thigh) isn't listed on Wednesday's initial injury report ahead of a Week 1 match against the Bengals.

Thielen participated in practice without any reported issue after he left the team's third preseason game due to a thigh bruise. The injury was likely minor, but he missed the team's final preseason game (which he was likely to skip anyway) and this was the first official report of him at practice, so it's good to get confirmation it's nothing to worry about. He looks set to start this week against the Bengals.

Thielen (thigh) won't play in Friday's preseason finale against Kansas City, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The wideout suffered a thigh bruise early in this past Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, and the Vikings will play it safe with Thielen with an eye toward getting him ready for Week 1 action. Heading into the 2021 season, Thielen and Justin Jefferson remain firmly on top of Minnesota's wide receiver depth chart and are slated to remain key targets for QB Kirk Cousins.

Thielen suffered a thigh bruise early in Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Thielen was among the Vikings' offensive starters to take the field alongside Kirk Cousins. However, his time on the field was short-lived, as he took a knee to his thigh early in the game and did not return. The injury is not currently deemed serious, though it's not clear when he will return to the practice field.

Thielen couldn't corral his only target during Saturday's preseason loss to the Colts.

Thielen has been without Justin Jefferson, his running mate at wide receiver, for much of training camp as the latter recovers from an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. After Thielen and Kirk Cousins didn't suit up in the Vikings' exhibition opener, the pair attempted to connect on their first possession of preseason Week 2 but were unable to do so on a short pass over the middle. The appearance may have been Thielen's only one before Week 1, especially to ensure Minnesota's top skill-position players are as healthy as possible to face the Bengals on the road on Sunday, Sept. 12.

The Vikings appear to have open competition at wide receiver behind Thielen and Justin Jefferson, according to Lindsey Young of the team's official website.

Jefferson may have eclipsed Thielen for No. 1 billing, but the soon-to-be 31-year-old shouldn't lose many targets to other wide receivers, as the Vikings again have shaky depth at the position. Last year's No. 3, Chad Beebe, caught only 20 passes in 14 games, and his competition this spring will come from Bisi Johnson and rookie fifth-round pick Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Despite being the ostensible No. 2 receiver in a run-first offense, Thielen shouldn't land too far from his 2020 average of 7.2 targets per game, with the Vikings offense continuing to run through him, Jefferson and RB Dalvin Cook.

Thielen caught four of five targets for 57 yards during Week 17's 37-35 win over the Lions.

Thielen was effective as the Vikings' primary red zone threat through the air in 2020, falling behind only DaVante Adams and Tyreek Hill in terms of touchdowns at the wide receiver position. Through 15 games, he also notched 74 catches for 925 yards on 108 targets. The emergence of rookie sensation Justin Jefferson as the Vikings' top aerial weapon in terms of yardage and catches will serve to dampen Thielen's fantasy prospects for 2021, but the veteran's nose for the end zone should go a long way in insulating his upside.

Thielen brought in eight of nine targets for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 52-33 loss to the Saints on Friday.

Thielen led the Vikings in receptions and receiving yardage while tying Irv Smith for second in targets. The veteran wideout also notched Minnesota's final score of the evening with a one-yard touchdown grab with 2:10 remaining in the contest, Thielen's career-high 14th visit to the end zone on the campaign. The 30-year-old will head into a Week 17 battle against the vulnerable Lions defense needing 132 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his seven-year career.

Thielen brought in two of three targets for 11 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings' 33-27 loss to the Bears on Sunday.

Thielen would have had a second consecutive disappointing outing had it not been for his three-yard touchdown grab late in the first quarter, which opened the scoring on the afternoon for the Vikings. The trip to the end zone was Thielen's career-high 13th this season, with six of those coming in the last five contests. The veteran will look to continue that favorable streak at the expense of the Saints in a Week 16 showdown on Christmas Day.

Thielen brought in three of four targets for 39 yards in the Vikings' 26-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

The shockingly meager numbers were some of Thielen's lowest of the season and came in the wake of a 20-241-5 line over the previous three games. The veteran wideout did come close to extending a streak of at least one touchdown catch to four games, but he was unable to come up with what would have been a spectacular one-handed catch in the right portion of the end zone. Thielen will look to bounce back at the expense of a Bears squad he rung up two touchdowns against back in Week 10 in a Week 15 divisional rematch.

Thielen caught eight of 11 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-24 overtime win over Jacksonville.

Thielen secured his 12th touchdown of the season from three yards out in the second quarter and finished second on the team behind Justin Jefferson in targets, catches and receiving yards. The two standout wide receivers have coexisted beautifully in a Vikings offense that flows almost exclusively through them and running back Dalvin Cook. Thielen should remain heavily involved in Week 14 against a Buccaneers defense that has been stingier against the run than the pass.

Thielen has been officially activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The wideout, who missed the Vikings' Week 12 win over the Panthers, is thus in line to resume action Sunday against the Jaguars. Thielen's return will be a big boost to the team's passing game, with the 30-year-old having posted a fantasy-friendly 49/646/11 stat line through 10 contests to date.

Coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that he expects Thielen (undisclosed) to be available for Sunday's game against Jacksonville, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen missed last weekend's narrow win over the Panthers due to his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and he's still awaiting clearance to rejoin teammates. The veteran wideout returned a positive COVID test seven days ago, though his subsequent results have come back negative. If Thielen is indeed cleared to return in time to face Jacksonville, he'll resume lining up as part of a lethal WR tandem across from Justin Jefferson.

Thielen (undisclosed) won't play Sunday against the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The two-time Pro Bowl receiver had a COVID-19 screening come back positive Monday, but a subsequent result showed him to be negative. Thielen hasn't been able to clear league protocols in time for kickoff, meaning rookie breakout Justin Jefferson will likely be thrust into an even more prominent role against Carolina's 19th-ranked pass defense. Week 12 marks Thielen's first missed game of the 2020 campaign. He sat out six games in 2019 because of hamstring injuries.

The Vikings don't expect Thielen (reserve/COVID-19) to play in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Thielen tested positive for the virus on Monday but had another test that came back negative. There hasn't been any definitive statement ruling him out, but the Vikings apparently are preparing for it to happen. Rookie sensation Justin Jefferson will be the clear No. 1 receiver if Thielen is out, with Bisi Johnson, Chad Beebe and Dan Chisena the top candidates to take on vacated snaps.

Thielen, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday after testing positive for the virus, tested negative a day later, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The NFL and medical experts are continuing to evaluate Thielen's situation, as it's possible that additional testing may prove that his initial result was a false positive. In any case, Thielen won't be able to practice with the Vikings as the team begins Week 12 prep, prompting head coach Mike Zimmer to admit Wednesday that he was unsure if the wideout would be cleared to play Sunday against the Panthers, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Justin Jefferson would act as Minnesota's clear No. 1 receiver if Thielen is forced to miss his first game of the season.

The Vikings placed Thielen (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.

Thielen's placement on the COVID-19 list is an indication that he's either tested positive for the virus or is required to quarantine after having come into close contact with someone who has. In any case, the star wideout's status for Sunday's upcoming game against the Panthers could now be in jeopardy. Thielen has four touchdowns over the last two weeks, so his presence would be extremely difficult for the Vikings to replace on offense, even with Justin Jefferson putting together a wildly impressive rookie season.

Thielen caught eight of 11 targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Cowboys.

For the second straight game, Thielen found the end zone twice, as he grabbed TD strikes of two and three yards from Kirk Cousins as the game opened up in the second half Sunday. Thielen also set a new season high in receiving yards, and his 11 scores through 10 games is already a new career high heading into Week 12's clash with the Panthers.

Thielen caught four of seven targets for 43 yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's 19-13 win over the Bears.

Thielen started the night with a spectacular, one-handed touchdown from 17 yards out. Although he subsequently dropped a pass that was intercepted, the veteran responded by scoring from six yards to give the Vikings their final lead in the fourth quarter. Through nine games, Thielen has topped 100 yards just twice, an amount doubled by rookie teammate Justin Jefferson, but his nine touchdowns have nonetheless kept him highly valuable. Considering in Week 11 he'll face a Dallas defense that's allowed 21 passing touchdown this season, Thielen should like his chances of another end-zone trip come Sunday.

Thielen recorded two receptions on five targets for 38 yards in Week 9 against the Lions.

The Vikings attempted only 20 passes in their victory over Detroit, limiting Thielen's chances for a big performance. Even with the opportunities given, Thielen had disappointing production as he converted less than half of his targets into receptions. On the positive side, he logged a 30-yard reception -- his sixth of greater than 20 yards on the season. Thielen will likely be in for a tough matchup in Week 10 against the Bears.

Thielen caught three of four targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 28-22 win over the Packers.

The Vikings' vertical game took a back seat to a huge performance by Dalvin Cook in this one, as the running back scored all four of Minnesota's TDs. Thielen did tie Justin Jefferson for the team lead in targets, and the duo should be more involved in Week 9 against a Lions defense that just gave up three passing TDs to Philip Rivers -- although none of the three went to wide receivers.

Thielen hauled in three of five targets for 51 receiving yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 40-23 loss to Atlanta.

The two-time Pro Bowler has racked up an incredible five TD receptions over the past four weeks, as well as seven total TDs through the Vikings' first six outings of 2020. Thielen has been held to fewer than 55 receiving yards on three occasions thus far on the year, but he's had a healthy workload of 8.2 targets per game, and opportunities should continue to be there with rookie Justin Jefferson attracting plenty of attention on the opposite side. He now heads into Minnesota's Week 6 bye before readying for a Nov. 1 showdown with the Packers.

Thielen (shoulder) pulled in nine receptions (13 targets) for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-26 loss to Seattle.

Thielen abused a sub-par Seahawks defense with his elite short route running, finding the end zone from in close twice on precise zag routes that left his defender a step behind. The 30-year-old dealt with a minor shoulder injury earlier in the practice week, but it did not resurface or affect his game in any way Sunday. Thielen will look to add to an already-impressive tally of six touchdowns through five games when the Vikings take on a soft Falcons defense in Week 6.

Thielen (shoulder) practiced in full Thursday.

One day removed from logging a limited session due to a shoulder issue, Thielen handled every practice rep. With his health not in question for Week 5, he'll look to produce again Sunday against a Seahawks defense that has allowed a ridiculous 336.3 receiving yards per game and five touchdowns to wide receivers through four contests.

Thielen (shoulder) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report.

A shoulder injury is to blame for Thielen's lack of reps, but being listed with LP next to his name generally is a positive sign for his upcoming availability. On the season, he has two 100-yard efforts to his name and has scored four TDs in four games, proving his standing as the Vikings' top wide receiver.

Thielen caught eight of his 10 targets, totaling 114 receiving yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 31-23 win against Houston.

Thielen's previous outing was largely salvaged by a touchdown as he otherwise accounted for only 29 receiving yards and three catches against the Titans in Week 3. That performance came on the heels of a disappointing three-catch, 31-yard outing against the Colts, but the Minnesota State standout returned to Pro-Bowl form against Houston on Sunday. Thielen attracted twice as many targets as any other Viking en route to his second 100-yard outing of the year, also corralling his fourth TD pass of 2020 against the Texans. He'll next face a Seahawks defense that entered Week 4 allowing 80.4 more passing yards per game (430.7) than any other team in the NFL.

Thielen recorded three receptions on five targets for 29 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Titans.

Thielen was overshadowed by rookie Justin Jefferson who went off 175 yards and a touchdown. However, Thielen tallied a score of his own, recording a 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone in the middle of the second quarter. That covered over an otherwise subpar performance, and Thielen has now recorded 60 yards combined in his past two games. He'll look to bounce back in a positive matchup against the Texans in Week 4.

Thielen caught three of eight targets for 31 receiving yards during Sunday's 28-11 loss to Indianapolis.

It's not that Minnesota wasn't trying to feed the ball to the team's top perimeter weapon, as Thielen garnered twice as many targets as the No. 2 option, Irv Smith, during Sunday's defeat. In a similar game script Week 1, Thielen carved up Green Bay during junk time, registering two fourth-quarter scores as the Vikings tried to play catch up. With Minnesota again trailing by double digits in the second half Sunday, Kirk Cousins looked Thielen's way on five occasions. The two were unable to connect for a single completion in the third and fourth quarters, though Thielen did draw an illegal contact penalty as well as a pass interference call. If there is any consolation to invested fantasy GMs, it may be the fact that Thielen now draws a matchup against Tennesee, and a Titans defense that surrendered 339 passing yards and three passing touchdowns to Jacksonville during Week 2.

Thielen brought in six of eight targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 43-34 loss to the Packers on Sunday. He also caught a two-point conversion pass.

On a day when quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled to get into rhythm for much of the contest, Thielen accounted for both of the signal-caller's scoring tosses and a sizable chunk of his 259 passing yards. Both of Thielen's touchdown catches came in the fourth quarter with the Vikings trailing by double digits, the first a 37-yard reception with 13:53 remaining and the second a 19-yard grab at the 1:21 mark of the final period to make the final score make the game appear closer than it was. Thielen will look to put up comparable numbers under better team circumstances when the Vikings face off with the Colts in a Week 2 interconference showdown next Sunday.

Thielen had three receptions for 67 yards in Friday's dress rehearsal scrimmage at U.S. Bank Stadium, Will Ragatz of Sports Illustrated reports. Thielen has looked in top form in training camp and was the best player on the field during the scrimmage, the St. Paul Pioneer Press adds.

Thielen's 2019 season was derailed by a hamstring injury in Week 7 and he had just three receptions the final nine games. However, he rebounded in the playoffs, hauling in 12 of 16 targets for 179 yards in two games. Following the Vikings' trade of Stefon Diggs this offseason, Thielen is destined to see plenty of targets in his age-30 season, presumably opposite first-round pick Justin Jefferson. It's encouraging to hear that he's back to top form in training camp and again the top target in the passing offense.

Thielen was disappointed when he found out the Vikings were trading Stefon Diggs to the Bills, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen said he and Diggs became close friends while playing on the same team for the past five years. On the bright side, Thielen should see plenty of targets in his age-30 season ahead, as the Vikings are left with a weak WR depth chart behind him -- Tajae Sharpe, Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe (ankle) being the top candidates to earn snaps. The upcoming draft likely will bring some form of competition, but there's no question about Thielen serving as the go-to receiver under new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. The veteran wideout rebounded from an injury-plagued 2019 campaign with a solid showing during the playoffs, bringing in 12 of 16 targets for 179 yards in two games.

Thielen caught five of seven targets for 50 yards in Saturday's 27-10 loss to the 49ers in the NFC divisional round.

After topping the century mark in last weekend's upset of the Saints, Thielen has much less success against the Niners' stingy secondary. The 29-year-old receiver dealt with injuries for the first time in his career in 2019 -- he didn't miss a game through his first five seasons in the league, but Thielen was sidelined for six contests in the regular season this year and played fewer than 10 snaps in two of the weeks he was able to suit up. As a result, his production plummeted to its lowest level since he became a starter in 2016. If Thielen is able to stay healthy in 2020, he should be able to rebound and deliver another 1,000-yard campaign, but another checkered season could end up being his last in Minnesota.

Thielen (ankle) is listed as active Saturday at San Francisco.

Thielen went through a rigorous pregame workout, including running routes and catching passes. He'll thus be available after a week in which he incurred a laceration on his left ankle that required stitches. While he'll be available, per usual, Saturday, Thielen could play second fiddle to fellow wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the pecking order.

Thielen (ankle) is listed as questionable for Saturday's playoff game against the 49ers, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Meanwhile, fellow starting wideout, Stefon Diggs (illness), is not listed on the Vikings' final injury report after returning to practice Thursday. Thielen -- whose ankle reportedly required stitches after being stepped on by a cleat during practice Wednesday -- should be considered a game-day call for Saturday's 4:35 ET kickoff, though we'll look for added clarity with regard to his status once national reporters like Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport tweet out their pre-game who's in/out estimations.

Thielen (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen reportedly required stitches to address a bad cut on his ankle that he suffered during practice Wednesday. His absence from practice Thursday after being listed as limited Wednesday isn't optimal, but the wideout is hopeful he'll be able to suit up for Saturday's playoff game against the 49ers. "You know how it is," Thielen said with regard to his ankle issue. "Got a little tangled up in practice. But I'm going to do whatever it takes. It's (the) playoffs. So I'm going to do whatever it takes to be out there on Saturday with my teammates and try and help this team win." With that, there's a pretty solid chance Thielen will be listed as questionable for the contest. On the plus side for the Vikings, Stefon Diggs, who missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday with an illness, returned to the field Thursday.

Thielen required stitches for a bad cut on his ankle sustained during Wednesday's practice session, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The Viking's remain optimistic about Thielen's status heading into Saturday's NFC divisional matchup against San Francisco, though his level of participation in Thursday's practice will be a key indicator of his chances of suiting up Saturday. Thielen had not been on the injury report to begin the week, and while the initial fear was that he suffered a setback, this was simply a case of the wideout taking a teammate's cleat to the ankle during practice, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Thielen (ankle) was limited at practice Wednesday, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen was added to the Vikings' injury report Wednesday, which hints that he may have suffered an in-practice setback. We'll revisit the wideout's status Thursday to see if he approaches Saturday's playoff game against the 49ers listed as questionable, or minus an injury designation.

Thielen (hamstring) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Thielen was a limited practice participant throughout the week, with multiple reports -- including one from ESPN's Adam Schefter -- suggesting the Vikings expected the wide receiver to play. Thielen is now set to make his first appearance since Week 9, when he aggravated his hamstring injury and was pulled from the game after seven snaps. His return should translate to a reduced role for fellow wide receiver Bisi Johnson, who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game due to a quad injury. Tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. may also lose some targets if Thielen is able to stay on the field this time around.

Thielen didn't aggravate his hamstring injury during his brief appearance in Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Chiefs, but the Vikings are expected to hold him out of the team's Week 11 game versus the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

After a one-game absence due to the injury, Thielen pushed to play against Kansas City, but he only played seven snaps before removing himself from the contest in the first quarter. With Thielen apparently informing the coaching staff that the hamstring was still troubling him, the Vikings are seemingly motivated to take a cautious approach with him in order to avoid a long-term setback. Minnesota will likely wait until later in the week before offering a definitive ruling on Thielen's status for the game against the Cowboys, but his fantasy managers should already begin looking at other options for their Week 11 lineups.

After Thursday's win over the Redskins -- which Thielen sat out due to a hamstring injury -- coach Mike Zimmer relayed that he expects Thielen to play in Week 9 against the Chiefs.

Thielen has 10 more days to heal up before the Vikings next take the field, and his coach expects the standout receiver to be good to go by then. More clarification should start to surface on Thielen's status once the Vikings begin practicing next week.

Thielen has been ruled out of Sunday's contest in Detroit due to a hamstring injury, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Thielen's only contribution occurred on his 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Aside from Stefon Diggs, the Vikings will rely on rookie Bisi Johnson and Laquon Treadwell to man wide receiver.

Thielen (illness) isn't listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.

Thielen made a quick recovery, returning to practice Thursday after he was held out of Wednesday's session. He'll take aim at an injury-plagued Eagles secondary that's given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game (29.3) to wide receivers, including 8.4 YPT and seven touchdowns.

Thielen (general soreness) wasn't listed on the Vikings' first injury report of Week 1.

After taking a seat preseason Week 3 with what was termed as soreness, Thielen was back in the practice field in full capacity Wednesday. The same cannot be said of Stefon Diggs, who sat out due to a hamstring injury. The extent of Diggs' injury isn't known, but any limitations for the wideout would equate to more targets for Thielen on Sunday versus the Falcons.