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With the Minnesota Vikings making preparations for their game on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Carolina Panthers, it appears they may be going into it without one of their star players.
Vikings WR Adam Thielen is not expected to play Sunday against the Panthers, per source. He remains on the Covid-19 list, and barring a change this weekend, he's bracing to have to sit. Thielen leads the league with 11 TDs.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 27, 2020
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is reporting that wide receiver Adam Thielen, who was placed on the Vikings’ reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, is “bracing” to have to sit out against the Panthers.
Thielen leads the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions, including two more in the Vikings’ 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. It still isn’t known whether or not he actually tested positive for COVID or if he is simply on the list for contact tracing purposes, and the team can’t disclose his status one way or another.
If Thielen has to sit this one out, it will shift extra attention from Carolina’s defense to star rookie Justin Jefferson. The team will also need significant contributions from the rest of the receiving corps.
Or the Vikings can just hope Dalvin Cook runs for 200 yards or so. Either way.
But, when the Vikings take the field on Sunday, it doesn’t appear as though Adam Thielen will be joining them. If we end up hearing differently, we will obviously update you, but we’re just going off of what we’re hearing right now.