The Minnesota Vikings have had an incredibly disappointing 2025 NFL season thus far. After starting the season with hopes of being a serious contender in the NFC once again, nothing close to that hope has actually transpired.
Following the team’s 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and Sam Darnold in Week 13, the Vikings now hold a 4-8 record.
Obviously, the playoffs are almost an impossible option now. Minnesota appears to be headed towards an important offseason with key decisions to be made. One of those decisions will come at the quarterback position and whether or not J.J. McCarthy is truly ready to be the team’s starting signal caller.
Read more: Vikings Urged to Pursue 2 QB Replacements for JJ McCarthy
On Monday, the Vikings made another decision. They opted to move on from veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
As announced by the team on X, Thielen was waived after a rough all-around season. Minnesota made a trade before the season to acquire Thielen from the Carolina Panthers, but he simply wasn’t able to carve out a consistent role.
Thielen finishes his 2025 stint with the Vikings catching eight catches for 69 yards in 11 games.
It seems possible that the 35-year-old wide receiver’s NFL career may have come to an end. Perhaps another team will take a flier on him for the stretch run of the regular season, but he could simply ride off into retirement.
When Minnesota made the trade to bring Thielen back to the franchise, fans were ecstatic about the move. He was expected to become a productive piece within the offense. It’s disappointing that his comeback story couldn’t have ended on a higher note.
Of course, the lack of production from Thielen isn’t solely on the wide receiver himself. The Vikings have had a disappointing season at the quarterback position. Between McCarthy and Carson Wentz, the football just hasn’t moved well through the air.
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Looking into the future, it will be interesting to see what Minnesota chooses to do. The team could look a bit different in 2026.
For now, Thielen is no longer with the team after being waived. The Vikings will now turn their attention to a Week 14 matchup against the Washington Commanders at home. That game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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