Adam Thielen Shocked By How Trade to Vikings Worked Out

The Minnesota Vikings decided they wanted needed Adam Thielen back this season, at some point following Jalen Nailor’s joint practice hand injury, which wound up requiring a surgical procedure.

Even before his injury, however, it was becoming clear that the Vikings needed to bring in pass-catching reinforcements to compliment superstar Justin Jefferson on the 53-man roster. And that was regardless of whether Nailor was going to be on it for the Vikings’ Monday Night opener in Chicago.

Without Jordan Addison (suspension) on the field for the first three weeks of the season, Minnesota needed more reliable talent on the outside, or opposing defenses were going to take Justin Jefferson away all game without paying paying the price elsewhere.

The Vikings proved their desperation by engaging the Panthers to a point where Carolina had to have felt cornered into trading their veteran leader, which they ultimately did. Nonetheless, they got a pretty penny for their sacrifice.

To get a deal done, the Panthers convinced Minnesota to essentially send them a fourth round pick, in exchange for a 35-year-old who was quickly being aged out of an increasingly young WR room in Carolina.

MN Vikings homecoming surprised Thielen

But despite all the rumors floating around pre-trade, surrounding his homecoming, along with the endorsement he gave to a deal early on in the process, per Kevin Seifert (ESPN), it sounds like Adam Thielen was still somewhat shocked that a trade reached the finish line.

Trade rumors rarely turn into anything, especially when the deal takes as long and gets as complicated as Thielen’s did. Until Adam got the phone call, confirming he had been traded back to Minnesota, the decade-long Viking didn’t think he’d dawn purple and gold again until he signed a one-day retirement contract.

The cost was significant, including all of Thielen’s revised 2025 salary and a package of 2026 draft picks that ESPN Research collectively valued as a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Count Thielen among those who were shocked by how it played out. “I just didn’t think that this was even a possibility,” Thielen said. “I thought the next time I would be talking to [reporters in Minnesota] is when I was signing a one-day contract and retiring.”

ESPN

Related: Vikings’ Homecoming King Plans to Retire Sooner Than Later

The Vikings are ecstatic to have Adam Thielen back at TCO Performance Center, and without a doubt the feeling is mutual. In fact, the Minnesota-native was so happy that he agreed to take a $2 million pay cut to get it across the finish line.

Now the Vikings don’t need to fast forward to that one-day retirement contract, and they can’t afford to. Jordan Addison is suspended for the first three weeks of the season, and Jalen Nailor’s health is a question mark. Rondale Moore’s preseason injury put wide receiver depth in a tough spot, and the veteran has to produce.

Last season Thielen missed seven games with a hamstring injury. He’s ready to rock for Minnesota, and will look to add onto the 6,682 yards he has already accumulated in purple. Thielen doesn’t need to be the guy, and at 35 he probably isn’t capable of that.

Expect Adam Thielen to contribute for MN Vikings

Last year the Vikings moved on from K.J. Osborn and turned the WR3 role over to Jalen Nailor. He contributed six touchdowns, but generated just 414 receiving yards and left more on the table with untimely drops.

Thielen hasn’t produced less than 500 yards in a single-season since 2019 (418), and he has twice surpassed 1,000 yards. He’ll get an opportunity to demand additional snaps after Addison returns by how he plays out of the gate.

JJ McCarthy and Adam Thielen have worked out together the past couple of offseasons, and now they’re teammates in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/TVXXHDaApN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2025

Related: Academic Struggles Nearly Cost MN Vikings Superstar His Shine

It shouldn’t be shocking if Theilen becomes one of McCarthy’s most trusted targets. The two have worked out together in the offseason and already have a level of rapport. He’s also a crisp route-runner with exceptional hands. That can be a security blanket for a young quarterback.

Justin Jefferson is a superstar and will always get his. There’s room for Thielen to coexist in the gameplan though, and even after Addison returns.