Vikings activate WR Adam Thielen from reserve/COVID-19 list
Adam Thielen #19 of the Minnesota Vikings catches a touchdown pass against Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter during their game at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ((Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS - It appears the Minnesota Vikings will have one of their top receivers back when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Vikings activated Adam Thielen from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, and he’s expected to be on the practice field. He reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 23, and spent 10 days in quarantine as a result.
"I think he'll be ready to go," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters Wednesday morning.
Thielen missed Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers, and watched Kirk Cousins lead the offense on a game-winning drive from his Twin Cities home.
His celebration after the win, filmed and posted to social media, went viral and gave a weekly glimpse of what it’s like to be a die-hard Vikings fan.
Thielen had the NFL lead with 11 receiving touchdowns through 10 games. Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs passed him with three on Sunday, and has 13 on the season. The Vikings’ franchise record for receiving touchdowns in a season is 17, set twice by Randy Moss.
"Great to have him back. He’s a top player on our team and in our league. Great to have his personality back in our locker room and on our practice field," quarterback Kirk Cousins said. "Looking forward to getting him back on the field on Sunday, and glad that he and his family are totally healthy and doing well."
Thielen has 49 catches for 646 yards on the season. The Vikings enter Sunday's game 5-6, have won four of their last five and are one game out of a playoff spot with five games left.
Ezra Cleveland returns to Vikings practice
The Vikings got some good news Wednesday as they started practice in preparation to face the Jaguars on Sunday. Offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland, who hasn’t played since Monday Night Football at Chicago due to an ankle injury, returned as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.
Rashod Hill, Irv Smith Jr. and D.J. Wonnum went through team stretching, but didn’t practice. Smith was out with a back injury, Wonnun has back and ankle injuries. Punter Britton Colquitt was not seen at practice. The absences for Hill and Colquitt were not injury related.