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The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly re-acquired wide receiver Adam Thielen in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
Thielen, 35, a Minnesota native, spent the first 10 seasons with the Vikings before signing a three-year, $25 million deal with the Panthers in March 2023. The veteran wide receiver was reported to be targeted by Minnesota to fill depth at the wide receiver position amid Jordan Addision's three-game suspension and Rondale Moore's season-ending injury.
"Reunion: The #Vikings are trading for their own former star WR Adam Thielen, per me and @TomPelissero, as Thielen heads back to MIN after a quick stint in Carolina. Carolina gets: A 2026 5th rounder and a 2027 4th. Minnesota gets: Thielen, a conditional 2026 7th and 2027 5th," Rapoport wrote on his X account. "This nets out to a fourth rounder for the #Panthers, which makes sense. With the #Vikings not having a 4, the two sides had to get creative."
Thielen recorded 48 receptions for 615 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games during the 2024 season. The Detroit Lakes native ranks third among all Vikings players in career receptions (534) and receiving touchdowns (55), as well as fifth in receiving yards (6,682) and was a two-time Pro Bowler (2017, 2018) and a Second-team All-Pro in 2017.
Thielen emerged as a starter in 2016 in the absence of former Minnesota receiver Stefon Diggs, who was sidelined with a groin injury at the time. The former Minnesota State standout had 69 receptions for 967 yards and five touchdowns while starting 10 games for the Vikings in 2016, before recording 1,000 yards and more than 90 receptions during each of the next two seasons, playing alongside Diggs as one of the league's best receiving duos.