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Minnesota Vikings Pushing For Wide Receiver Trade Before Week 1

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Aug 22, 2025 10:40 AM ET

The Minnesota Vikings could add a familiar face to their wide receiver room before their Week 1 showdown with the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football."

On paper, the Vikings have more than enough talent at wide receiver. They have a four-time Pro Bowler in Justin Jefferson who had 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Across from him is Jordan Addison, a former first-round pick from USC. He's coming off a 2024 campaign where he had 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

So what's the issue for the Vikings? For starters, Jefferson has missed a considerable amount of time this summer with a hamstring strain. Although he'll be ready for Week 1, we can't say the same for Addison. He was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Even their No. 3 wideout, Jalen Nailor, is nursing an injury right now. He's week-to-week with a "jammed hand."

Since the Vikings are running out of reliable wide receivers for the start of the season, they're expected to pursue a two-time Pro Bowler.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 28: Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Vikings have inquired about trading for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen.

"With WR Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension and Jalen Nailor dealing with a hand injury, Thielen could wind up starting opening night for the Vikings if they can complete the trade," Schefter wrote.

Thielen has history with the Vikings.

Even though Thielen was undrafted in 2013, he climbed his way up the ladder and turned himself into an elite playmaker for the Vikings.

During his run in Minnesota from 2014-2022, Thielen had 534 catches for 6,682 yards and 55 touchdowns. He actually set an NFL record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (8).

The Panthers currently a lot of young talent in their wide receiver room. They selected Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 pick in this year's draft and selected Xavier Legette in the second round of the 2024 draft.

If the Vikings are willing to part ways with draft compensation, they could get a deal done with the Panthers.

Is Thielen worth trading for at this stage in his career? If Carolina's asking price isn't too high, we're going to say yes. This is a wideout who had 615 yards and five touchdowns in just 10 games last season.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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