Adam Thielen was cleared to return Wednesday from the Vikings’ COVID list following a positive test result Wed., Nov. 23 and is expected to play Sunday versus Jacksonville.
Prior to the announcement, head coach Mike Zimmer speculated, "I think he'll be ready to go,” when asked during a press conference Wednesday morning.
Thielen’s return will put two local products on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in week 13 with former Hawley Nugget and NDSU Bison tight end Ben Ellefson getting reps for the Jaguars.
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Ellefson has one catch for 10 yards and a two-point conversion this season playing behind James O’Shaughnessy, Tyler Eifert and Tyler Davis on the Jag’s tight end depth chart.
Thielen had led the league for much of the season with 11 touchdown receptions before missing last week’s victory over Carolina.
Thielen is currently tied for second in receiving scores with Mike Evans and Davante Adams. Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill leads the league with 13 touchdowns after a monster effort in a 27-24 victory over Tampa Bay. Hill had 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
For the season, Thielen has been targeted 76 times, with 49 receptions for 646 yards. He has eight catches of 20 yards or more, including a long of 51 yards.
According to the NFL, clubs must place any player designated as a "high risk" close contact on the reserve/COVID-19 list upon such designation. The player will remain on that list at least five days since the date on which the player was last in contact with the infected individual. The player will be permitted to resume club activities on the sixth day after such last exposure if all tests, including the fifth testing day, are negative.
Players with symptomatic cases must wait out a minimum 10-day quarantine.
