A year after he also missed seven games due to injury with the Carolina Panthers, Thielen may well just be at the end of the road from a physical standpoint. Still, as a low-risk rental, he might have appeal to a handful of teams on track for January football.

Adam Thielen requested a release from the Vikings to prove that he's still a capable player in his final season, according to his wife.

Adam Thielen was granted his release from the Vikings on Monday. He was claimed off waivers by the Steelers on Tuesday.

Thielen's Minnesota reunion has not gone according to plan, however. The Vikings fell to 4-8 with Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, a game started by third-string quarterback Max Brosmer while starter J.J. McCarthy sat out with a concussion.

In 2025, Thielen has recorded 8.9 fantasy points (1.0 per game) -- 151st at his position, 403rd in the NFL. Looking at his past three games, Thielen has picked up 22 yards receiving, on three catches (six targets), with zero touchdowns and an average of 0.7 fantasy points (2.2 total).

The Steelers walked into Sunday’s clash with Buffalo knowing the stakes, but few expected the game to unravel the way it did. A defensive scoop‑and‑score, a quarterback milestone, and a ground game that flipped the script all combined to turn a tight contest into a lopsided 26–7 defeat.