Steelers claim 35-year-old WR Adam Thielen off waivers from Vikings

The Pittsburgh Steelers added an aging and recently released wide receiver to their position group.

Adam Thielen, 35, was claimed off waivers by the Steelers on Tuesday, a day after he was released following a second tour with the Minnesota Vikings.

Thielen had requested his release so he could finish this season — the last of his 12-year NFL career — with a contending team. The Vikings are 4-8 and agreed to release Thielen, who has said he wants to return to the team for an official retirement ceremony.

This season, in his return to Minnesota following two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Thielen had eight receptions for 69 yards in 11 games that included four starts. He played just three snaps on offense in a Week 12 loss at Green Bay. He was inactive Sunday in a 26-0 loss to Seattle.

Thielen made the Pro Bowl in the 2017-18 seasons with the Vikings. He twice exceeded 100 receptions in a season, including his 2023 season with Carolina. But his production dipped to 48 catches for 615 yards in 10 games last season, and he was traded back to Minnesota in August. He agreed to rework his contract, signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Vikings.

Thielen joins a Steelers team that is tied for the division lead at 6-6 with Baltimore — and one that has been searching for a complementary piece to starter DK Metcalf. The Steelers’ second-leading wide receiver is Calvin Austin, who has 26 catches for 278 yards and two touchdowns. Roman Wilson is third with 12 catches for 166 yards.

The Steelers do not need to make a corresponding move to the 53-man roster because they placed left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve Saturday.