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NFL star Adam Thielen has been released by the Minnesota Vikings at his own request, as he chases regular game-time before hanging up his cleats at the end of the season.
Thielen, 35, had weighed up retirement last summer, before revealing exclusively to the Daily Mail that he would be returning for a 12th season in the league.
He has been back home in Minnesota this season, but has now been released by the team, with a bombshell statement published on Monday afternoon.
'Last week Adam's representation approached the team and asked if we would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what he has indicated will be his final NFL season,' Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said.
'Following discussions through the weekend and out of respect for Adam, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue more playing time elsewhere.
'Adam is one of the all-time great Vikings, and we wish him and his family continued success.'
Adam Thielen is leaving the Vikings after a total of 10 seasons across two different spells
Thielen has played in all of the Vikings' 11 games so far this season, but his snap count has been limited, and he only received one target against the Packers last time out.
It is as yet unclear whether Thielen already has another team lined up, but he released a statement of his own shortly after the Vikings' post.
'This is tremendously difficult for me to write and certainly not how any of us imagined this to go,' he said on X.
'As a Minnesota native, putting on this uniform over the years and representing this community both on and off the field has always meant that much more to me. This team is in my bones, it's in my heart and it's part of my DNA.
Thielen, 35, has played in every game so far this season but his snap count has been limited
'I will ALWAYS be a Minnesota Viking. Since this past Spring, I knew this was going to be my last season playing in the National Football League.
'Given that, the Vikings allowed me the opportunity to go compete elsewhere for the last few weeks of my career.
'Minnesota will always be our home and we are incredibly grateful to the Wilf family, Kwesi, KO, Rob and everyone in the Vikings organization for bringing us back in August. This organization means the world to us from the top down and this locker room is filled with true professionals.
'With gratitude and love and I'll be back to retire!'
